Microbial production of alkanolamides and amidoamines and uses thereof

ABSTRACT

The disclosure relates to a recombinant microorganism engineered to express an enzyme which catalyzes the conversion of a primary amine and an acyl thioester to a fatty amide. The disclosure further encompasses a method of producing a fatty amide by culturing the recombinant microorganism in the presence of a carbon source.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the National Phase of International Application No.PCT/US2013/30502 filed 12 Mar. 2013, which designated the U.S. and thatInternational Application was published under PCT Article 21(2) inEnglish, which claims the benefit of priority to U.S. ProvisionalApplication Ser. No. 61/623,711, filed 13 Apr. 2012, all of whichapplications are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.

FIELD

The disclosure relates to a microorganism that is engineered to expressan enzyme in order to produce fatty amides when cultured in the presenceof a carbon source.

BACKGROUND

Fatty amides are endogenous components of animal and plant lipids thathave a wide variety of biochemical and physiological functions (Bachuret al. (1965) J. Biol. Chem. 240:1019-1024). Endogenous fatty amidessuch as N-palmitoylethanolamine (PEA), N-arachidonoyl ethanolamide(anandamide), N-oleoyl ethanolamide (OEA), and N-arachidonoyl dopamine(NADA) function as signaling molecules in the central and peripheralnervous system (see, e.g., Tan et al. (2006) AAPS J. 8 (3): E461-E465;and Lo Verme et al. (2004) Mol. Pharmacol. 67(1):15-19). PEA has beendemonstrated to exert anti-inflammatory and anti-nociceptive activities,and pharmaceutical formulations of PEA for the treatment of pain areavailable in Europe under the trade name NORMAST (Petrosino et al.(2010) Biochimie 92 (6):724-7; and Bacci et al. (2011) ISRN Surgery,Volume 2011, Article ID 917350, 6 pages; doi:10.5402/2011/917350).

Fatty amides, such as fatty alkanolamides and fatty aminoamides, alsohave a wide variety of non-pharmaceutical commercial uses. Fattyalkanolamides and fatty aminoamides are useful as foaming agents,surfactants, or intermediates thereof in the production of personal careproducts (e.g., shampoos, body washes, and facial cleansers), cosmeticformulations (e.g., blushes, mascaras, and lipsticks), and householdcleaning products (e.g., laundry detergents, dishwashing liquids, andsurface cleaning compositions). Fatty alkanolamides and fattyaminoamides also are useful as fuel additives. It is estimated that100,000 tons of alkanolamides are consumed in the global market eachyear (Adlercreutz et al. (2010) Industrial Biotechnology 6 (4):204-211).

Fatty alkanolamides for commercial use classically have been producedvia costly synthetic organic reactions between a fatty acid or fattyacid methyl ester derived from feedstocks such as natural oils or fatsand crude oil and an alkanolamine (Adlercreutz et al., supra, and Frost& Sullivan, “Nonionic Surfactants in the Industrial Triad” (2002)). Forexample, PEA can be produced by reacting palmitoyl fatty acids derivedfrom coconut oils with monoethanolamine in a Schotten-Baumann reaction,as follows:

Fatty alkanolamides have also been produced biosynthetically. Forexample, OEA can be produced from phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) andsn-1-oleoyl-phosphatidylcholine (PC) precursors via a two enzymeprocess, wherein PE and sn-1-oleoyl-PC are reacted with N-acyltransferase to form N-acyl phosphatidylethanolamine (NAPE) which is thencombined with lyso-PC and reacted with NAPE-specific phospholipase D toform OEA and phosphatidic acid (see Astarita et al. (2006) Am. J.Physiol. Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol 290:R1407-R1412).

These methods, as well as other methods known in the art forsynthesizing fatty amides, often involve inefficient reaction steps andare thus costly, from both an economical and environmental perspective.Hence, there is a need for improved methods and reagents for theproduction of fatty amides, wherein the length and saturation of fattychain as well as the type of the amide head group can be controlledefficiently.

SUMMARY

One aspect of the present disclosure provides a recombinantmicroorganism including a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptidethat catalyzes the conversion of a primary amine and an acyl thioesterto a fatty amide, wherein the microorganism is cultured in the presenceof a carbon source. Herein, the microorganism is engineered to expressthe nucleic acid sequence that encodes the polypeptide that catalyzesthe conversion of a primary amine and an acyl thioester to a fatty amidewhen the microorganism is cultured in the presence of a carbon source.In one embodiment, the carbon source is a carbohydrate. In anotherembodiment, the polypeptide is a palmitoylputrescine synthase (PPS)polypeptide. In still another embodiment, the polypeptide is aN-(4-amino-2-hydroxylbutyl)tetradecanamide synthase (AhtS) polypeptide.

Another aspect of the disclosure provides a palmitoylputrescine synthase(PPS) polypeptide that has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1. Inone embodiment, the PPS polypeptide includes an amino acid sequence thathas at least about 70%, at least about 75%, at least about 80%, at leastabout 85%, at least about 90%, at least about 91%, at least about 92%,at least about 93%, at least about 94%, at least about 95%, at leastabout 96%, at least about 97%, at least about 98%, or at least about 99%sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1. In anotherembodiment, the PPS polypeptide is encoded by a nucleic acid sequencecomprising the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2.

Another aspect of the disclosure provides aN-(4-amino-2-hydroxylbutyl)tetradecanamide synthase (AhtS) polypeptidethat has the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3. In one embodiment, theAhtS polypeptide includes an amino acid sequence that has at least about70%, at least about 75%, at least about 80%, at least about 85%, atleast about 90%, at least about 91%, at least about 92%, at least about93%, at least about 94%, at least about 95%, at least about 96%, atleast about 97%, at least about 98%, or at least about 99% sequenceidentity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3. In anotherembodiment, the AhtS polypeptide is encoded by a nucleic acid sequencecomprising the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 22.

Yet, another aspect of the disclosure provides a recombinantmicroorganism, wherein the primary amine includes, but is not limitedto, 3-dimethylamino-1-propylamine, (±)-1-amino-2-propanol,2-methoxyethylamine, 3-amino-1-propanol, 2-amino-1,3-propanediol,3-methoxypropylamine, N-(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediamine, and butylamine,1,4-diaminobutane, or a combination thereof.

Still, another aspect of the disclosure provides a recombinantmicroorganism, wherein the acyl thioester is a fatty acyl-ACP or a fattyacyl-CoA. The fatty acyl-ACP or the fatty acyl-CoA is produced by themicroorganism.

The disclosure further encompasses a recombinant microorganism thatincludes a nucleic acid sequence encoding one or more of a fatty acidbiosynthetic polypeptide, a thioesterase polypeptide (EC 3.1.2.14 or EC3.1.1.5) and an acyl-CoA synthase polypeptide (EC 2.3.1.86). In oneembodiment, the nucleic acid sequence encoding the thioesterasepolypeptide is tesA. In another embodiment, the nucleic acid sequenceencoding the acyl-CoA synthase polypeptide is fadD. In yet anotherembodiment, the microorganism includes a nucleic acid sequence encodinga fatty acid biosynthetic polypeptide, including, but not limited toaccABCD, FabD, FabH, FabG, FabB, FabA, FabZ, FabF, FabI, and/or FadR.

The disclosure further contemplates a microorganism including, but notlimited to, bacteria, cyanobacteria, algae, and fungi. In oneembodiment, the bacteria is E. coli. In another embodiment, the fungi isyeast or filamentous fungi. In yet another embodiment, the microorganismincludes, but is not limited to, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candidalipolytica, Escherichia coli, Arthrobacter, Rhodotorula glutinins,Acinetobacter, Candida lipolytica, Botryococcus braunii, Vibriofurnissii, Micrococcus leuteus, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Bacillussubtilis, Bacillus lichenoformis, Psuedomonus putida, Psuedomonasflorescens, Streptomyces coelicolor, Synechococcus sp. PCC7002,Thermosynechococcus elongatus BP-1, Prototheca moriformis, Protothecakrugani, Prototheca stagnora, Prototheca zopfii, or Chorellaprotothecoide cell. In still another embodiment, the microorganismincludes, but is not limited to Arthrobacter AK 19, Acinetobacter sp.strain M-1, E. coli B, E. coli C, E. coli K, or E. coli W cell.

Another aspect of the disclosure provides a recombinant microorganismincluding a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide that catalyzesthe conversion of a primary amine and an acyl thioester to a fattyamide, wherein the polypeptide that catalyzes the conversion of aprimary amine and an acyl thioester to a fatty amide is endogenous tothe microorganism.

Another aspect of the disclosure provides a recombinant microorganismincluding a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide that catalyzesthe conversion of a primary amine and an acyl thioester to a fattyamide, wherein the polypeptide that catalyzes the conversion of aprimary amine and an acyl thioester to a fatty amide is exogenous to themicroorganism.

Still, another aspect of the disclosure provides a recombinantmicroorganism including a nucleic acid sequence encoding an enzyme thatcatalyzes the conversion of a primary amine and an acyl thioester to afatty amide. In one embodiment, the fatty amide is a fatty alkanolamideand/or a fatty amidoamine. In another embodiment, the fatty amide is aC14, C16, and/or C18 fatty alkanolamide and/or a C14, C16, or C18 fattyamidoamine. In yet another embodiment, the fatty amide is a C8, C9, C10,C11, C12, C13, C14, C15, C16, C17, C18, C19 or C20 fatty alkanolamideand/or a C8, C9, C10, C11, C12, C13, C14, C15, C16, C17, C18, C19 or C20fatty amidoamine.

Yet, another aspect of the disclosure provides a recombinantmicroorganism including a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptidethat catalyzes the conversion of a primary amine and an acyl thioesterto a fatty amide, wherein the microorganism expresses a serinedecarboxylase polypeptide.

The disclosure further encompasses a method of producing a fatty amideincluding: (a) providing a recombinant microorganism including a nucleicacid sequence encoding a polypeptide that catalyzes the conversion of aprimary amine and an acyl thioester to a fatty amide; and (b) culturingthe recombinant microorganism in a culture medium under conditionssuitable for expression of the nucleic acid sequence encoding thepolypeptide that catalyzes the conversion of a primary amine and an acylthioester to a fatty amide in the presence of at least one substrate forthe polypeptide. This method may further include isolating the fattyamide from the culture medium. The method can be used to produce fattyamides. In one embodiment, the fatty amide is a fatty alkanolamideand/or a fatty amidoamine. In another embodiment, the fatty amide is aC8, C9, C10, C11, C12, C13, C14, C15, C16, C17, C18, C19 or C20 fattyalkanolamide and/or a C8, C9, C10, C11, C12, C13, C14, C15, C16, C17,C18, C19 or C20 fatty amidoamine.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

The present disclosure is best understood when read in conjunction withthe accompanying figures, which serve to illustrate the preferredembodiments. It is understood, however, that the disclosure is notlimited to the specific embodiments disclosed in the figures.

FIG. 1 is a representative gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS)chromatogram of the fatty species produced by E. coli MG1655 strain DG5transformed with an expression vector encoding a palmitoylputrescinesynthase (PPS) cultured in the presence of ethanolamine. The upper paneldepicts a peak having a GC retention time of 13.1 min which wasidentified as N-palmitoylethanolamide by MS analysis depicted in thelower panel.

FIGS. 2A-2D are GC-MS chromatograms of the N-palmitoylethanolamideproduct following derivatization withN,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)-trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA). FIG. 2A depicts apeak having a GC retention time of 13.3 min which was identified astrimethylsilyl (TMS)-protected N-palmitoylethanolamide by MS analysisdepicted in FIG. 2E. FIGS. 2B-2D are control chromatograms of BSTFAalone, N-palmitoylethanolamide without BSTFA derivatization, and blankreaction, respectively.

FIG. 3 is a GC-MS chromatogram of the fattyN-(3-dimethylamino-1-propylamine)amides produced by E. coli MG1655strain DG5 transformed with an expression vector encoding a PPS culturedin the presence of 3-dimethylamino-1-propylamine.

FIG. 4 depicts the fatty amide products obtained from E. coli MG1655cells transformed with an expression vector encoding a PPS and culturedin the presence of the indicated primary amine feeds.

FIG. 5 is a representative GC-MS chromatogram of the fatty speciesproduced by an E. coli MG1655 strain transformed with an expressionvector encoding the enzyme N-(4-amino-2-hydroxylbutyl)tetradecanamidesynthase (AhtS) cultured in the presence of3-dimethylamino-1-propylamine. The upper panel depicts a peak having aGC retention time of 11.4 min which was identified as C14:0 fattyN-(3-dimethylamino-1-propylamide) by MS analysis depicted in the lowerpanel.

FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of metabolic pathways which can begenetically modified according to the methods of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The natural antibiotic palmitoylputrescine can be produced by bacteriawhich express palmitoylputrescine synthase (PPS) (GenBank Accession No.AAV33349.1 (hereinafter “AAV33349”)) (SEQ ID NO: 1) encoded by thenucleic acid sequence of GenBank Accession No. AY632377.1 (hereinafter“AY632377”) (SEQ ID NO: 2) (Brady et al. (2004) J. Nat. Prod.67:1283-1286). When overexpressed in E. coli, the PPS encoded byAY632377 was demonstrated to produce only one major N-acyl derivative ofputrescine (1,4-diaminobutane), namely palmitoylputrescine (Brady etal., supra). A homologue encoding the enzyme,N-(4-amino-2_hydroxylbutyl)tetradecanamide synthase (AhtS) (GeneBankAccession No. ACX33975.1) (SEQ ID NO: 3), has an amino acid sequencethat is 38% identical to the amino acid sequence of PPS. TheN-(4-amino-2-hydroxybutyl)tetradecanamide synthase (AhtS) gene fromuncultured bacterium RM44 (GenBank GQ869386) is shown in (SEQ ID NO:22).

The disclosure is based, at least in part, on the discovery that amicroorganism (e.g., bacteria) expressing a PPS or AhtS can producefatty amides from acyl thioester precursors when cultured in thepresence of a carbon source. Without wanting to be bound by theory, itis believed that PPS directly catalyzes the amidation between an acylthioester and a primary amine. This is the first time that amicroorganism has been specifically engineered to express an enzyme suchas PPS or AhtS in order to produce fatty amides. This is advantageousbecause the microorganism thereby serves as a convenient biologicalfactory that generates fatty amides of desired chain length, includingin branched or unbranched form. In addition, various differentfeedstocks (e.g., corn, sugar cane, glycerol, switchgrass) can be usedinterchangeably to supply the necessary carbon source for themicroorganism, allowing for flexibility. As such, the microorganism canbe used to produce fatty amides upon demand that can be harvested viafermentation, thereby bypassing the cumbersome and costly prior artsystems that still rely on expensive natural oils and complicatedsynthetic chemistry. Fatty amides are needed for the production ofnumerous products including, but not limited to, foaming agents,cationic surfactants, intermediates for use as shampoos and bathproducts, emulsifying agents in cosmetics and pharmaceuticals, fueladditives, and the like.

The disclosure provides a recombinant microorganism engineered toexpress a nucleic acid sequence encoding a polypeptide that catalyzesthe conversion of a primary amine and an acyl thioester to a fattyamide, wherein the microorganism is cultured in the presence of a carbonsource. In one embodiment, the carbon source is a carbohydrate. Morespecifically, the microorganism was engineered such that an enzyme likePPS or AhtS is expressed in order to catalyze the amidation between anyprimary amine (e.g, ethanolamine, amine 3-dimethylamino-1-propylamine)with an acyl thiol-ester (e.g., acyl-CoA or acyl-ACP) in order toproduce fatty amides such as alkanolamides and amidoamines. This is anovel process because fatty alkanolamides (e.g., intermediates used inthe synthesis of cocamidopropyl betaine) and amidoamines have so farbeen produced synthetically from feed stocks such as natural oils (orfats) and crude oil, which is an inefficient process because it relieson refining the raw materials until the desired materials are achieved.In comparison, the present disclosure provides a production method,wherein a microorganism is engineered to express enzymes such that, forexample, alkanolamides and fatty N-(3-dimethylamino-1-propylamine)amidesare synthesized biochemically, which is a much more effective processfor producing fatty amides. Amino acids or carbohydrates can be added tothe fermentation medium of the microorganism to supply the necessarycarbon source (see Examples 3-7). Alternatively, the microorganism canbe engineered to generate its own primary amine in vivo. For example,the biosynthesis of ethanolamine can be achieved by geneticallyincreasing serine biosynthesis and serine decarboxylation pathways (seeExample 8). Enzymatically, AhtS produces the same amide compounds as PPSbut with a preference for C14:0 fatty thioester substrates. Both enzymesbelong to EC family 2.3.1.X.X.

The disclosure further provides a method of producing a fatty amide in arecombinant microorganism. Fatty amides produced by this method include,but are not limited to, fatty alkanolamides and fatty amidoamines. Inone embodiment, the fatty amide is a C14, C16, and/or C18 fattyalkanolamide. In another embodiment, the fatty amide is a C14, C16,and/or C18 fatty amidoamine. The method involves the steps of (a)providing a recombinant microorganism engineered to express a nucleicacid sequence encoding a polypeptide such as PPS or AhtS which catalyzesthe conversion of a primary amine and an acyl thioester to a fattyamide; and (b) culturing the recombinant microorganism under conditionssuitable for expression of the polypeptide in the presence of at leastone substrate for the polypeptide, thereby producing the fatty amide.The microorganism is cultured in the presence of a carbon source. Thecarbon source can be selected from a wide variety of different sources,including but not limited to, amino acids, carbohydrates, and lipids. Inone embodiment, the carbon source is a carbohydrate. The fatty amidethat is produced by the microorganism can be isolated from the culturebroth (e.g., fermentation broth). In one embodiment, the fatty amide isisolated from the extracellular environment of the microorganism. Inanother embodiment, the fatty amide is spontaneously secreted, partiallyor completely, from the microorganism. In another embodiment, the fattyamide is transported into the extracellular environment, optionally withthe aid of one or more suitable transport proteins. In yet anotherembodiment, the fatty amide is passively transported into theextracellular environment.

The terms “fatty amide” and “alkyl amide” refer to a compound having theformula R¹CONHR², wherein R¹ represents an aliphatic group derived froma fatty acid, and R² represents a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl,substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkyl, substituted or unsubstitutedalkenyl, or substituted or unsubstituted heteroalkenyl group derivedfrom a primary amine.

An “acyl thioester” refers to a fatty acid which has been “activated” bya fatty acid biosynthetic pathway of the production host microorganism.The acyl thioester can be generated from a fatty acid endogenous to themicroorganism, or the acyl thioester can be generated from a fatty acidprovided to the microorganism exogenously. Non-limiting examples of acylthioesters are acyl-coenzyme A (CoA) and acyl-acyl carrier protein(ACP).

The term “acyl-CoA” refers to an acyl thioester formed between thecarbonyl carbon of an alkyl chain and the sulfhydryl group of the4′-phosphopantetheine moiety of CoA, which has the formula R¹—C(O)S-CoA,where R¹ is an aliphatic group. The term “acyl-ACP” refers to an acylthioester formed between the carbonyl carbon of an alkyl chain and thesulfhydryl group of a 4′-phosphopantetheine moiety attached to ACP,which has the formula R¹—C(O)S-ACP, where R¹ is an aliphatic group.

The term “fatty acid” means a carboxylic acid having the formula R¹COOH.R¹ represents an aliphatic group, preferably an alkyl group. R¹ cancomprise between 4 and 26 carbon atoms. In certain embodiments, R¹ is atleast 5, at least 6, at least 7, at least 8, at least 9, at least 10, atleast 11, at least 12, at least 13, at least 14, at least 15, at least16, at least 17, at least 18, at least 19, at least 20, or at least 21carbons in length. Alternatively, or in addition, the R¹ group is 22 orless, 21 or less, 20 or less, 19 or less, 18 or less, 17 or less, 16 orless, 15 or less, 14 or less, 13 or less, 12 or less, 11 or less, 10 orless, 9 or less, 8 or less, 7 or less, or 6 or less carbons in length.Thus, the R¹ group can have an R¹ group bounded by any two of the aboveendpoints. For example, the R¹ group can be 6-16 carbons in length,10-14 carbons in length, or 12-18 carbons in length. In someembodiments, the fatty acid is a C₆, C₇, C₈, C₉, C₁₀, C₁₁, C₁₂, C₁₃,C₁₄, C₁₅, C₁₆, C₁₇, C₁₈, C₁₉, C₂₀, C₂₁, C₂₂, C₂₃, C₂₄, C₂₅, or C₂₆ fattyacid. In certain embodiments, the fatty acid is a C₆, C₈, C₁₀, C₁₂, C₁₃,C₁₄, C₁₅, C₁₆, C₁₇, or C₁₈ fatty acid. In one preferred embodiment, thefatty amide is a C14, C16, or C18 fatty alkanolamide. In anotherpreferred embodiment, the fatty amide is a C14, C16, or C18 fattyamidoamine. In still another preferred embodiment, the fatty amide is aC8, C9, C10, C11, C12, C13, C14, C15, C16, C17, C18, C19 or C20alkanolamide. In yet another preferred embodiment, the fatty amide is aC8, C9, C10, C11, C12, C13, C14, C15, C16, C17, C18, C19 or C20amidoamine.

The R¹ group of a fatty acid can be a straight chain or a branchedchain. Branched chains may have more than one point of branching and mayinclude cyclic branches. In some embodiments, the branched fatty acid isa C₆, C₇, C₈, C₉, C₁₀, C₁₁, C₁₂, C₁₃, C₁₄, C₁₅, C₁₆, C₁₇, C₁₈, C₁₉, C₂₀,C₂₁, C₂₂, C₂₃, C₂₄, C₂₅, or C₂₆ branched fatty acid. In particularembodiments, the branched fatty acid is a C₆, C₈, C₁₀, C₁₂, C₁₃, C₁₄,C₁₅, C₁₆, C₁₇, or C₁₈ branched fatty acid. In certain embodiments, thehydroxyl group of the branched fatty acid is in the primary (C₁)position.

In certain embodiments, the branched fatty acid is an iso-fatty acid oran anteiso-fatty acid. In exemplary embodiments, the branched fatty acidis selected from iso-C_(7:0), iso-C_(8:0), iso-C_(9:0), iso-C_(10:0),iso-C_(11:0), iso-C_(12:0), iso-C_(13:0), iso-C_(14:0), iso-C_(15:0),iso-C_(16:0), iso-C_(17:0), iso-C_(18:0), iso-C_(19:0), anteiso-C_(7:0),anteiso-C_(8:0), anteiso-C_(9:0), anteiso-C_(10:0), anteiso-C_(11:0),anteiso-C_(12:0), anteiso-C_(13:0), anteiso-C_(14:0), anteiso-C_(15:0),anteiso-C_(16:0), anteiso-C_(17:0), anteiso-C_(18:0), andanteiso-C_(19:0) branched fatty acid.

The R¹ group of a branched or unbranched fatty acid can be saturated orunsaturated. If unsaturated, the R¹ group can have one or more than onepoint of unsaturation. In some embodiments, the unsaturated fatty acidis a monounsaturated fatty acid. In certain embodiments, the unsaturatedfatty acid is a C6:1, C7:1, C8:1, C9:1, C10:1, C11:1, C12:1, C13:1,C14:1, C15:1, C16:1, C17:1, C18:1, C19:1, C20:1, C21:1, C22:1, C23:1,C24:1, C25:1, or C26:1 unsaturated fatty acid. In other embodiments, theunsaturated fatty acid is a C10:1, C12:1, C14:1, C16:1, or C18:1unsaturated fatty acid. In yet other embodiments, the unsaturated fattyacid is unsaturated at the omega-7 position. In certain embodiments, theunsaturated fatty acid comprises a cis double bond.

The primary amine can be any primary amine capable of serving as asubstrate for PPS having the formula R²NH₂, wherein R² represents asubstituted or unsubstituted alkyl, substituted or unsubstitutedheteroalkyl, substituted or unsubstituted alkenyl, or substituted orunsubstituted heteroalkenyl chain. In certain embodiments, R² issubstituted with a hydroxyl group, and the fatty amide may be referredto as an “alkanolamide” or a “fatty alkanolamide.” In other embodiments,R² contains an amino group, and the fatty amide may be referred to as an“amidoamine” or a “fatty amidoamine.”

R² can comprise between 1 and 12 carbon atoms. In certain embodiments,R² comprises at least 2, at least 3, at least 4, at least 5, at least 6,or at least 7 carbons. Alternatively, or in addition, R² comprises 12 orless, 11 or less, 10 or less, 9 or less, 8 or less, 7 or less, 6 orless, 5 or less, or 4 or less carbons. Thus, the R² group can comprisecarbons bounded by any two of the above endpoints. For example, the R²group can comprise 2-8 carbons, 4-10 carbons, or 3-6 carbons. In someembodiments, the R² group contains 3, 4, 5, or 6 carbon atoms.

The R² group of a primary amine can be a straight chain or a branchedchain. Branched chains may have more than one point of branching and mayinclude cyclic branches.

The term “alkyl,” by itself or as part of another substituent means,unless otherwise stated, a straight chain or branched chain, or cyclichydrocarbon radical, or combination thereof. This definition alsoapplies wherever “alkyl” occurs as part of a group, such as, e.g., inhydroxyalkyl, haloalkyl, aminoalkyl, alkylamino, dialkylamino, etc.

The term “alkenyl,” by itself or as part of another substituent means,unless otherwise stated, a straight chain or branched chain, or cyclichydrocarbon radical, or combination thereof, containing, for example,about 2 to about 12 carbon atoms and containing at least onecarbon-carbon double bond.

The terms “heteroalkyl” and “heteroalkenyl” refer to, unless otherwisestated, a straight or branched chain, or cyclic hydrocarbon radical, orcombinations thereof, consisting of the stated number of carbon atomsand at least one heteroatom selected from the group consisting of O, N,Si, and S, and wherein the nitrogen and sulfur atoms may optionally beoxidized, and the nitrogen heteroatom may optionally be quaternized. Theheteroatom(s) O, N, Si, and S may be placed at any interior position ofthe heteroalkyl or heteroalkenyl group. Exemplary heteroalkyl groups forthe R² group include, but are not limited to, —CH₂—CH₂—OH,—CH₂—CH₂—O—CH₃, —CH₂—CHOH—CH₃, —CH₂—CH₂—CH₂—O—CH₃, —CH₂—CH₂—CH₂—N(CH₃)₂,CH₂—CH₂—CH₂—NH—CH₂—CH₃, —CH₂—CH₂—CH₂—NH—CH₂—CH₂—OH, —CH—(CH₂—OH)₂, and—Si(CH₃)₃. Up to two heteroatoms may be consecutive, such as, forexample, —CH₂—CH₂—O—Si(CH₃)₃.

The terms alkyl, heteroalkyl, alkenyl, and heteroalkenyl are meant toinclude both substituted and unsubstituted forms of the indicatedradical. Exemplary substituents for the alkyl, heteroalkyl, alkenyl, andheteroalkenyl radicals of the R² group can be one or more of a varietyof groups selected from, but not limited to, —OR′, ═O, ═NR′, ═N—OR′,—NR′R″, —SR′, -halogen, —SiR′R″R′″, —OC(O)R′, —C(O)R′, —CO₂R′, —CN and—NO₂ in a number ranging from zero to (2m′+1), where m′ is the totalnumber of carbon atoms in such radical. Each of R′, R″, and R′″independently refers to hydrogen, unsubstituted or substituted alkyl,unsubstituted or substituted heteroalkyl, unsubstituted or substitutedalkenyl, unsubstituted or substituted heteroalkenyl, alkoxy orthioalkoxy groups, or arylalkyl groups.

In some embodiments, the substituent for the R² group is —OH. In certainembodiments, the R² group is a polyhydroxy alkyl or a polyhydroxyheteroalkyl moiety containing 2, 3, or 4 hydroxyl groups.

The alkyl, heteroalkyl, alkenyl, or heteroalkenyl chain of the R² groupalso can be interrupted with a polyethylene oxide moiety. In certainembodiments, the R² group contains a polyethylene oxide moietycomprising 2 or more, 3 or more, 4 or more, 5 or more, or 6 or more, or7 or more ethylene oxide moieties. In other embodiments, the R² groupcontains a polyethylene oxide moiety comprising 12 or less, 11 or less,10 or less, 9 or less, 8 or less, 7 or less, 6 or less, or 5 or lessethylene oxide moieties. Thus, the R² group can contain a polyethyleneoxide moiety having a number of ethylene oxide moieties bounded by anytwo of the above endpoints. For example, the R² group can contain apolyethylene oxide moiety having 2-10, 4-8, or 3-5 ethylene oxidemoieties.

The primary amine may be produced in the microorganism from afermentable carbon source. For example, monoethanolamine can begenerated in vivo from serine by the action of serine decarboxylase(SDC) (Rontein et al. (2001) J. Biol. Chem. 276 (38):35523-35529). Insome embodiments, the microorganism expresses an endogenous SDCpolypeptide. In other embodiments, the microorganism is engineered tooverexpress a SDC polypeptide.

Putrescine (1,4-diaminobutane) can be generated in vivo from arginine bythe actions of arginine decarboxylase (ADC) and agmatine ureohydrolase(AUH), which convert arginine to agmatine, and agmatine to putrescine,respectively (Moore et al. (1990) J. Bacteriol 172(8): 4631-4640). Insome embodiments, the microorganism expresses endogenous ADC and AUHpolypeptides. In other embodiments, the microorganism is engineered tooverexpress an ADC polypeptide, an AUH polypeptide, or ADC and AUHpolypeptides. In certain embodiments, the ADC is encoded by the speAgene from E. coli MG1655 (GenBank Accession No. NC_000913).

The primary amine can also be provided to the microorganism exogenously.

Exemplary primary amines suitable for use in the disclosure include, butare not limited to, ethanolamine (monoethanolamine),3-dimethylamino-1-propylamine, (±)-1-amino-2-propanol,2-methoxyethylamine, 3-amino-1-propanol, 2-amino-1-3-propanediol,3-methoxypropylamine, N-(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediamine, butylamine,1,4-diaminobutane, and combinations thereof. In certain embodiments, theprimary amine is 3-dimethylamino-1-propylamine.

The nucleic acid suitable for use in the recombinant microorganisms andmethods of the disclosure can be any nucleic acid having a sequencewhich encodes a polypeptide capable of converting a primary amine and anacyl thioester to a fatty amide when the nucleic acid is expressed andthe microorganism is cultured in the presence of a carbon source.

In one embodiment, the polypeptide is a PPS polypeptide. In certainembodiments, the PPS polypeptide comprises, consists essentially of, orconsists of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1, i.e., the aminoacid sequence of AAV33349. In some embodiments, the PPS polypeptide isencoded by a nucleic acid sequence comprising the nucleic acid sequenceof SEQ ID NO: 2. In other embodiments, the PPS polypeptide is ahomologue of the PPS polypeptide having the amino acid sequence of SEQID NO: 1. The PPS polypeptide preferably comprises, consists essentiallyof, or consists of an amino acid sequence that is at least about 70%, atleast about 75%, at least about 80%, at least about 85%, at least about90%, at least about 91%, at least about 92%, at least about 93%, atleast about 94%, at least about 95%, at least about 96%, at least about97%, at least about 98%, or at least about 99% identical to the aminoacid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1.

In other embodiments, the polypeptide is aN-(4-amino-2-hydroxylbutyl)tetradecanamide synthase (AhtS) polypeptide.In certain embodiments, the AhtS polypeptide comprises, consistsessentially of, or consists of the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3,i.e., the amino acid sequence of GenBank Accession No. ACX33975. In someembodiments, the AhtS polypeptide is encoded by a nucleic acid sequencecomprising the nucleic acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 22. In otherembodiments, the AhtS polypeptide is a homologue of the AhtS polypeptidehaving the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 3. The AhtS polypeptidepreferably comprises, consists essentially of, or consists of an aminoacid sequence that is at least about 70%, at least about 75%, at leastabout 80%, at least about 85%, at least about 90%, at least about 91%,at least about 92%, at least about 93%, at least about 94%, at leastabout 95%, at least about 96%, at least about 97%, at least about 98%,or at least about 99% identical to the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3.

In certain embodiments, the polypeptide that catalyzes the conversion ofa primary amine and an acyl thioester to a fatty amide is endogenous tothe microorganism. In such embodiments, the recombinant microorganism isengineered to overexpress the endogenous polypeptide that catalyzes theconversion of a primary amine and an acyl thioester to a fatty amide.

In other embodiments, the polypeptide that catalyzes the conversion of aprimary amine and an acyl thioester to a fatty amide is exogenous to themicroorganism. In such embodiments, the recombinant microorganism isengineered to express the exogenous polypeptide such that it catalyzesthe conversion of a primary amine and an acyl thioester to a fattyamide. For example, the exogenous nucleic acid encoding the exogenouspolypeptide can be integrated into the microorganism through standardmolecular biology procedures. Providing the microorganism with a carbonsource will allow the microorganism to increase fatty amide production.

The terms “homolog,” “homologue,” and “homologous” as used herein referto a polynucleotide or a polypeptide comprising a sequence that is atleast about 70% homologous to the corresponding polynucleotide orpolypeptide sequence. One of ordinary skill in the art is well aware ofmethods to determine homology between two or more sequences. Forexample, the comparison of sequences and determination of percenthomology between two sequences can be accomplished using a mathematicalalgorithm, such as Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST) (Altschulet al. (1990) J. Mol. Biol. 215 (3): 403-410).

The term “polynucleotide” refers to a polymer of DNA or RNA, which canbe single-stranded or double-stranded and which can contain non-naturalor altered nucleotides. The terms “polynucleotide,” “nucleic acid,” and“nucleic acid molecule” are used herein interchangeably to refer to apolymeric form of nucleotides of any length, either ribonucleotides(RNA) or deoxyribonucleotides (DNA).

The terms “polypeptide” and “protein” refer to a polymer of amino acidresidues. The term “recombinant polypeptide” refers to a polypeptidethat is produced by recombinant DNA techniques, wherein generally DNAencoding the expressed protein or RNA is inserted into a suitableexpression vector that is in turn used to transform a host cell toproduce the polypeptide or RNA.

In the compositions and methods of the disclosure, the production of adesired fatty acid or acyl thioester derivative thereof can be enhancedby altering the expression of one or more genes involved in theregulation of fatty acid production, degradation and/or secretion in therecombinant microorganism.

In some embodiments, the recombinant microorganism comprises a nucleicacid sequence encoding a fatty acid biosynthetic polypeptide. As usedherein, the term “fatty acid biosynthetic polypeptide” refers to anypolypeptide involved in fatty acid biosynthesis. The fatty acidbiosynthetic pathway in host cells uses the precursors acetyl-CoA andmalonyl-CoA. The steps in this pathway are catalyzed by enzymes of thefatty acid biosynthesis (fab) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (acc) genefamilies (see, e.g., Heath et al. (2001) Prog. Lipid Res. 40(6):467-497). Acetyl-CoA is carboxylated by acetyl-CoA carboxylase (EC6.4.1.2) to form malonyl-CoA. Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (EC 6.4.1.2) is amulti-subunit enzyme encoded by four separate genes (accA, accB, accC,and accD) in most prokaryotes. In some bacteria, such as Corynebacteriumglutamicus, acetyl-CoA carboxylase includes two subunits, AccDA[YP_225123.1] and AccBC [YP_224991], encoded by accDA and accBC,respectively. Depending upon the desired fatty acid or fatty acidderivative product, specific fab and/or acc genes (or combinationsthereof) may be overexpressed, modified, attenuated, or deleted in anengineered host cell.

In some embodiments, the nucleic acid sequence encoding a fatty acidbiosynthetic polypeptide encodes accABCD. In other embodiments, thenucleic acid sequence encoding a fatty acid biosynthetic polypeptideencodes FabD, FabH, FabG, FabB, FabA, FabZ, FabF, FabI, or a functionalhomologue of Fab from another organism, such as FabV. Exemplary GenBankAccession numbers for the fatty acid biosynthetic polypeptides suitablefor use in the compositions and methods of the disclosure include FabD(AAC74176), FabH (AAC74175), FabG (AAC74177), FabB (POA953), FabA(ACY27485.1), FabZ (ACY27493.1), FabF (AAC74179), and FabI (NP_415804).

In some embodiments, the recombinant microorganism comprises nucleicacid sequences encoding two or more (e.g., 3 or more, 4 or more)biosynthetic polypeptides (e.g., accABCD and FabD; FabD, FabH, and FabG;or FabI, FabG,H,D, FabA,B, and FabZ).

FadR is a transcription factor involved in fatty acid degradation andfatty acid biosynthesis pathways (Cronan et al. (1998) Mol. Microbiol.29 (4):937-943). FadR is known to modulate the expression and/oractivity of numerous genes, including fabA, fabB, iclR, fadA, fadB,fadD, fadE, fadl, fadJ, fadL, fadM, uspA, aceA, aceB, and aceK.Exemplary GenBank accession numbers for polypeptides encoded by the FadRtarget genes include fabA (NP_415474), fabB (BAA16180), (NP_418442),fadA (YP_026272.1), fadB (NP_418288.1), fadD (AP_002424), fadE(NP_414756.2), fadl (NP_416844.1), fadJ (NP_416843.1), fadL (AAC75404),fadM (NP_414977.1), uspA (AAC76520), aceA (AAC76985.1), aceB(AAC76984.1), and aceK (AAC76986.1).

In some embodiments, the recombinant microorganism includes a nucleicacid sequence encoding a fatty acid biosynthetic polypeptide, and thenucleic acid sequence encoding FadR. In certain embodiments, the nucleicacid sequence encodes FadR from E. coli MG1655 (NP_415705).

Thioesterases (EC 3.1.2.14 or EC 3.1.1.5) hydrolyze fatty acids fromacyl-ACP thioesters. The chain length of an acyl thioester substrate canbe selected for by modifying the expression of selected thioesterases.In certain embodiments, a host cell is engineered to express,overexpress, have attenuated expression, or not to express one or moreselected thioesterases to increase the production of a preferred fattyacid derivative substrate. For example, C₁₀ fatty acids can be producedby expressing a thioesterase that has a preference for producing C₁₀fatty acids and attenuating thioesterases that have a preference forproducing fatty acids other than C₁₀ fatty acids (e.g., a thioesterasewhich prefers to produce C₁₄ fatty acids). This would result in arelatively homogeneous population of fatty acids that comprise 10carbons. In other instances, C₁₄ fatty acids can be produced byattenuating endogenous thioesterases that produce non-C₁₄ fatty acidsand expressing the thioesterases that have a preference for C₁₄-ACP. Insome situations, C₁₂ fatty acids can be produced by expressingthioesterases that have a preference for C₁₂-ACP and attenuatingthioesterases that preferentially produce non-C₁₂ fatty acids.Acetyl-CoA, malonyl-CoA, and fatty acid overproduction can be verifiedusing methods known in the art, for example, by using radioactiveprecursors, HPLC, or GC-MS.

Non-limiting examples of thioesterase genes (and corresponding GenBankAccession number(s)) whose expression can be altered in the compositionsand methods of the disclosure include tesA without leader sequence('tesA) from E. coli (AAC73596), tesB from E. coli (AAC73555), fatB fromUmbellularia california (Q41635, AAA34215), fatB2 from Cuphea hookeriana(AAC49269), fatB3 from Cuphea hookeriana (Q39513; AAC72881), fatB fromCinnamonum camphorum (Q39473, AAC49151), fatB [M 141T] from Arabidopsisthaliana (CAA85388) (Mayer et al. (2007) BMC Plant Biology 7:1-11), fatAfrom Arabidopsis thaliana (NP 189147; NP 193041), fatA fromBradyrhiizobium japonicum (CAC39106), fatA from Cuphea hookeriana(AAC72883), and fatA1 from Helianthus annus (AAL79361).

In certain embodiments, the recombinant microorganism includes a nucleicacid sequence encoding a thioesterase, and the nucleic acid sequence is'tesA from E. coli MG1655 (AAC73596).

Acyl-CoA synthases (EC 2.3.1.86) activate fatty acids by catalyzing theformation of acyl-CoA thioesters. Non-limiting examples of acyl-CoAsynthase genes whose expression can be altered in the compositions andmethods of the disclosure include fadD, fadK, BH3103, yhfL, Pfl-4354,EAV15023, fadD1, fadD2, RPC_4074, fadDD35, fadDD22, faa3p or the geneencoding the protein ZP_01644857. Specific examples of acyl-CoA synthasegenes include fadDD35 from M. tuberculosis H37Rv [NP_217021], fadDD22from M. tuberculosis H37Rv [NP_217464], fadD from E. coli [NP_416319],fadK from E. coli [YP_416216], fadD from Acinetobacter sp. ADP1[YP_045024], fadD from Haemophilus influenza RdkW20 [NP_438551], fadDfrom Rhodopseudomonas palustris Bis B 18 [YP_533919], BH3101 fromBacillus halodurans C-125 [NP_243969], Pfl-4354 from Pseudomonasfluorescens Pfo-1 [YP_350082], EAV15023 from Comamonas testosterone KF-1[ZP_01520072], yhfL from B. subtilis [NP_388908], fadD1 from P.aeruginosa PAO1 [NP_251989], fadD1 from Ralstonia solanacearum GM1 1000[NP_520978], fadD2 from P. aeruginosa PAO1 [NP_251990], the geneencoding the protein ZP_01644857 from Stenotrophomonas maltophiliaR551-3, faa3p from Saccharomyces cerevisiae [NP_012257], faalp fromSaccharomyces cerevisiae [NP_014962], lcfA from Bacillus subtilis[CAA99571], and those described in Shockey et al. (2002) Plant. Physiol.129:1710-1722); Caviglia et al. (2004) J. Biol. Chem. 279:1163-1169);Knoll et al. (1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269(23):16348-56); Johnson et al.(1994) J. Biol. Chem. 269:18037-18046); and Black et al. (1992) J. Biol.Chem. 267:25513-25520).

In some embodiments, the recombinant microorganism comprises a nucleicacid sequence encoding an acyl-CoA synthase polypeptide, and theacyl-CoA synthase polypeptide is FadD from E. coli MG1655 [NP_416319].

The recombinant microorganism can comprise nucleic acids encoding anycombination of fatty acid biosynthetic polypeptides, thioesterasepolypeptides, and acyl-CoA synthase polypeptides. In certainembodiments, the microorganism comprises a nucleic acid sequenceencoding a thioesterase polypeptide and a nucleic acid sequence encodingan acyl-CoA synthase polypeptide.

One of ordinary skill in the art will understand that, depending uponthe purpose (e.g., desired fatty acid or acyl thioester derivativethereof), specific genes (or combinations of genes) involved in fattyacid metabolism may be overexpressed, modified, attenuated, or deletedin a recombinant microorganism engineered to comprise a nucleic acidsequence encoding a polypeptide capable of catalyzing the conversion ofa primary amine and an acyl thioester to a fatty amide. Additionalexamples of genes involved in fatty acid metabolism suitable for use inthe disclosure are described, for example, in U.S. Patent ApplicationPublication 2011/0162259, which is incorporated in its entirety byreference herein.

In some embodiments, the polypeptide is a fragment of any of thepolypeptides described herein. The term “fragment” refers to a shorterportion of a full-length polypeptide or protein ranging in size fromfour amino acid residues to the entire amino acid sequence minus oneamino acid residue. In certain embodiments of the invention, a fragmentrefers to the entire amino acid sequence of a domain of a polypeptide orprotein (e.g., a substrate binding domain or a catalytic domain).

In some embodiments, the polypeptide is a mutant or a variant of any ofthe polypeptides described herein. The terms “mutant” and “variant” asused herein refer to a polypeptide having an amino acid sequence thatdiffers from a wild-type polypeptide by at least one amino acid. Forexample, the mutant can comprise one or more of the followingconservative amino acid substitutions: replacement of an aliphatic aminoacid, such as alanine, valine, leucine, and isoleucine, with anotheraliphatic amino acid; replacement of a serine with a threonine;replacement of a threonine with a serine; replacement of an acidicresidue, such as aspartic acid and glutamic acid, with another acidicresidue; replacement of a residue bearing an amide group, such asasparagine and glutamine, with another residue bearing an amide group;exchange of a basic residue, such as lysine and arginine, with anotherbasic residue; and replacement of an aromatic residue, such asphenylalanine and tyrosine, with another aromatic residue. In someembodiments, the mutant polypeptide has about 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9,10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, 90, 100, or more amino acidsubstitutions, additions, insertions, or deletions.

Preferred fragments or mutants of a polypeptide retain some or all ofthe biological function (e.g., enzymatic activity) of the correspondingwild-type polypeptide. In some embodiments, the fragment or mutantretains at least about 75%, at least about 80%, at least about 90%, atleast about 95%, or at least about 98% or more of the biologicalfunction of the corresponding wild-type polypeptide. In otherembodiments, the fragment or mutant retains about 100% of the biologicalfunction of the corresponding wild-type polypeptide. Guidance indetermining which amino acid residues may be substituted, inserted, ordeleted without affecting biological activity may be found usingcomputer programs well known in the art, for example, LASERGENE™software (DNASTAR, Inc., Madison, Wis.).

In yet other embodiments, a fragment or mutant has an “increased levelof activity.” By “increased level of activity” is meant that apolypeptide has a higher level of biochemical or biological function(e.g., DNA binding or enzymatic activity) in an engineered cell ascompared to its level of biochemical and/or biological function in acorresponding wild-type host cell under the same conditions. The degreeof enhanced activity can be about 10% or more, about 20% or more, about50% or more, about 75% or more, about 100% or more, about 200% or more,about 500% or more, about 1000% or more, or any range therein.

In some embodiments, a polypeptide or polynucleotide having an alteredor modified level of expression is “overexpressed” or has an “increasedlevel of expression.” As used herein, “overexpress” and “increasing thelevel of expression” mean to express or cause to be expressed apolynucleotide or polypeptide in an engineered cell at a greaterconcentration than is normally expressed in a corresponding wild-typecell under the same conditions. For example, a polypeptide can be“overexpressed” in an engineered cell when the polypeptide is present ina greater concentration in the engineered cell as compared to itsconcentration in a non-engineered host cell of the same species underthe same conditions.

In other embodiments, a polypeptide or polynucleotide having alteredlevel of expression is “attenuated” or has a “decreased level ofexpression.” As used herein, “attenuate” and “decreasing the level ofexpression” mean to express or cause to be expressed a polynucleotide orpolypeptide in an engineered cell at a lesser concentration than isnormally expressed in a corresponding wild-type cell under the sameconditions.

The degree of overexpression or attenuation can be 1.5-fold or more,e.g., 2-fold or more, 3-fold or more, 5-fold or more, 10-fold or more,or 15-fold or more. Alternatively, or in addition, the degree ofoverexpression or attenuation can be 500-fold or less, e.g., 100-fold orless, 50-fold or less, 25-fold or less, or 20-fold or less. Thus, thedegree of overexpression or attenuation can be bounded by any two of theabove endpoints. For example, the degree of overexpression orattenuation can be 1.5-500-fold, 2-50-fold, 10-25-fold, or 15-20-fold.

A polynucleotide or polypeptide can be attenuated using methods known inthe art. In some embodiments, the expression of a gene or polypeptideencoded by the gene is attenuated by mutating the regulatorypolynucleotide sequences which control expression of the gene. In otherembodiments, the expression of a gene or polypeptide encoded by the geneis attenuated by overexpressing a repressor protein, or by providing anexogenous regulatory element that activates a repressor protein. Instill yet other embodiments, DNA- or RNA-based gene silencing methodsare used to attenuate the expression of a gene or polynucleotide. Insome embodiments, the expression of a gene or polypeptide is completelyattenuated, e.g., by deleting all or a portion of the polynucleotidesequence of a gene.

A polynucleotide or polypeptide can be overexpressed using methods knownin the art. In some embodiments, overexpression of a polypeptide isachieved by the use of an exogenous regulatory element. The term“exogenous regulatory element” generally refers to a regulatory elementoriginating outside of the host cell. However, in certain embodiments,the term “exogenous regulatory element” can refer to a regulatoryelement derived from the host cell whose function is replicated orusurped for the purpose of controlling the expression of an endogenouspolypeptide. For example, if the recombinant microorganism is an E. colicell which comprises a nucleic acid sequence encoding a fatty acidbiosynthetic polypeptide, and the fatty acid biosynthetic polypeptide isFadR encoded by an endogenous fadR gene, then expression of theendogenous fadR can be controlled by a promoter derived from another E.coli gene.

In some embodiments, the exogenous regulatory element is a chemicalcompound, such as a small molecule. As used herein, the term “smallmolecule” refers to a substance or compound having a molecular weight ofless than about 1,000 g/mol.

In some embodiments, the exogenous regulatory element which controls theexpression of a nucleic acid sequence is an expression control sequencewhich is operably linked to the nucleic acid sequence. Expressioncontrol sequences are known in the art and include, for example,promoters, enhancers, polyadenylation signals, transcriptionterminators, internal ribosome entry sites (IRES), ribosome bindingsites (RBS), and the like, that provide for the expression of thenucleic acid sequence in a host cell. Expression control sequencesinteract specifically with cellular proteins involved in transcription(Maniatis et al. (1987) Science 236:1237-1245). Exemplary expressioncontrol sequences are described in, for example, Goeddel, GeneExpression Technology: Methods in Enzymology, Vol. 185, Academic Press,San Diego, Calif. (1990).

By “operably linked” is meant that a nucleic acid sequence and anexpression control sequence(s) are connected in such a way as to permitgene expression when the appropriate molecules (e.g., transcriptionalactivator proteins) are bound to the expression control sequence(s).Operably linked promoters are located upstream of the selected nucleicacid sequence in terms of the direction of transcription andtranslation. Operably linked enhancers can be located upstream, within,or downstream of the selected nucleic acid sequence.

In some embodiments, the nucleic acid sequence is provided to the hostcell by way of a recombinant vector, which comprises a promoter operablylinked to the polynucleotide sequence. In certain embodiments, thepromoter is an inducible, a constitutive, or an organelle specificpromoter. In certain embodiments, the expression control sequence isoperably linked to an endogenous nucleic acid sequence by integration ofthe expression control sequence into the genome of a host cell byhomologous recombination using methods known in the art (e.g., Datsenkoet al. (2000) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 97 (12): 6640-6645).

As used herein, the term “vector” refers to a nucleic acid moleculecapable of transporting another nucleic acid sequence to which it hasbeen linked. One type of useful vector is an episome (i.e., a nucleicacid capable of extra-chromosomal replication). Useful vectors are thosecapable of autonomous replication and/or expression of nucleic acids towhich they are linked. Vectors capable of directing the expression ofgenes to which they are operatively linked are referred to herein as“expression vectors.” In general, expression vectors of utility inrecombinant DNA techniques are often in the form of “plasmids,” whichrefer generally to circular double stranded DNA loops that, in theirvector form, are not bound to the chromosome. However, also included aresuch other forms of expression vectors that serve equivalent functionsand that become known in the art subsequently hereto.

In some embodiments, the recombinant vector comprises at least onesequence selected from the group consisting of (a) an expression controlsequence operatively coupled to the nucleic acid sequence; (b) aselection marker operatively coupled to the nucleic acid sequence; and(c) a targeting sequence operatively coupled to the nucleic acidsequence.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the design ofthe expression vector can depend on such factors as the choice of thehost cell to be transformed, the level of expression of polypeptidedesired, etc. The expression vectors described herein can be introducedinto host cells to produce polypeptides, including fusion polypeptides,encoded by the polynucleotide sequences as described herein.

Suitable expression systems for both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cellsare well known in the art; see, e.g., Sambrook et al., “MolecularCloning: A Laboratory Manual,” second edition, Cold Spring HarborLaboratory (1989). Examples of inducible, non-fusion E. coli expressionvectors include pTrc (Amann et al. (1988) Gene 69:301-315) and PET 11d(Studier et al., Gene Expression Technology Methods in Enzymology 185,Academic Press, San Diego, Calif., pp. 60-89 (1990)). In certainembodiments, a polynucleotide sequence of the disclosure is operablylinked to a promoter derived from bacteriophage T5. Examples of vectorsfor expression in yeast include pYepSec1 (Baldari et al. (1987) EMBO J.6:229-234), pMFa (Kurjan et al. (1982) Cell 30:933-943), pJRY88 (Schultzet al. (1987) Gene 54:113-123), pYES2 (Invitrogen Corp., San Diego,Calif.), and picZ (Invitrogen Corp., San Diego, Calif.).

Vectors can be introduced into prokaryotic or eukaryotic cells viaconventional transformation or transfection techniques. As used herein,the terms “transformation” and “transfection” refer to a variety ofart-recognized techniques for introducing foreign nucleic acid (e.g.,DNA) into a host cell, including calcium phosphate or calcium chlorideco-precipitation, DEAE-dextran-mediated transfection, lipofection, orelectroporation. Suitable methods for transforming or transfecting hostcells as well as methods to select for cells which have taken up thevector can be found in, for example, Sambrook et al. (supra).

A “recombinant microorganism” is a host cell used to produce a productdescribed herein (e.g., a fatty amide). A recombinant microorganism,also referred to herein as a “recombinant host cell,” an “engineeredmicroorganism,” or an “engineered host cell,” is a host cell wherein theexpression of one or more nucleic acids or polypeptides are altered ormodified as compared to their expression in a corresponding wild-typehost cell under the same conditions. In any of the aspects of thedisclosure described herein, the host cell can include, but is notlimited to, a bacteria cell, a cyanobacteria cell, an algae cell, and afungus cell (e.g., a filamentous fungus cell or a yeast cell).

In some embodiments, the host cell is a Gram-positive bacterial cell. Inother embodiments, the host cell is a Gram-negative bacterial cell.

In some embodiments, the host cell is selected from the genusEscherichia, Bacillus, Lactobacillus, Rhodococcus, Pseudomonas,Aspergillus, Trichoderma, Neurospora, Fusarium, Humicola, Rhizomucor,Kluyveromyces, Pichia, Mucor, Myceliophtora, Penicillium, Phanerochaete,Pleurotus, Trametes, Chrysosporium, Saccharomyces, Stenotrophamonas,Schizosaccharomyces, Synechococcus, Yarrowia, or Streptomyces.

In certain embodiments, the host cell is a Saccharomyces cerevisiae,Candida lipolytica, Escherichia coli, Arthrobacter, Rhodotorulaglutinins, Acinetobacter, Candida lipolytica, Botryococcus braunii,Vibrio furnissii, Micrococcus leuteus, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia,Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus lichenoformis, Psuedomonus putida,Psuedomonas florescens, Streptomyces coelicolor, Prototheca moriformis,Prototheca krugani, Prototheca stagnora, Prototheca zopfii, or Chorellaprotothecoide cell.

In some embodiments, the host cell is an Arthrobacter AK 19,Acinetobacter sp. strain M-1, E. coli B, E. coli C, E. coli K, or E.coli W cell.

In other embodiments, the host cell is a Bacillus lentus cell, aBacillus brevis cell, a Bacillus stearothermophilus cell, a Bacilluslichenformis cell, a Bacillus alkalophilus cell, a Bacillus coagulanscell, a Bacillus circulans cell, a Bacillus pumilis cell, a Bacillusthuringiensis cell, a Bacillus clausii cell, a Bacillus megaterium cell,or a Bacillus amyloliquefaciens cell.

In other embodiments, the host cell is a Trichoderma koningii cell, aTrichoderma viride cell, a Trichoderma reesei cell, a Trichodermalongibrachiatum cell, an Aspergillus awamori cell, an Aspergillusfumigates cell, an Aspergillus foetidus cell, an Aspergillus nidulanscell, an Aspergillus niger cell, an Aspergillus oryzae cell, a Humicolainsolens cell, a Humicola lanuginose cell, a Rhodococcus opacus cell, aRhizomucor miehei cell, or a Mucor michei cell.

In yet other embodiments, the host cell is a Streptomyces lividans cellor a Streptomyces murinus cell.

In yet other embodiments, the host cell is an Actinomycetes cell.

In other embodiments, the host cell is a cell from an eukaryotic plant,algae, cyanobacterium, green-sulfur bacterium, green non-sulfurbacterium, purple sulfur bacterium, purple non-sulfur bacterium,extremophile, yeast, fungus, an engineered organism thereof, or asynthetic organism. In some embodiments, the host cell islight-dependent or fixes carbon. In some embodiments, the host cell islight-dependent or fixes carbon. In some embodiments, the host cell hasautotrophic activity. In some embodiments, the host cell hasphotoautotrophic activity, such as in the presence of light. In someembodiments, the host cell is heterotrophic or mixotrophic in theabsence of light. In certain embodiments, the host cell is a cell fromAvabidopsis thaliana, Panicum virgatum, Miscanthus giganteus, Zea mays,Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, Dunaliela salina, Synechococcus Sp. PCC 7002,Synechococcus Sp. PCC 7942, Synechocystis Sp. PCC 6803,Thermosynechococcus elongates BP-1, Chlorobium tepidum, Chlorojlexusauranticus, Chromatiumm vinosum, Rhodospirillum rubrum, Rhodobactercapsulatus, Rhodopseudomonas palusris, Clostridium ljungdahlii,Clostridiuthermocellum, Penicillium chrysogenum, Pichia pastoris,Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Pseudomonasjluorescens, or Zymomonas mobilis.

As used herein, the term “conditions permissive for the production”means any conditions that allow a host cell to produce a desiredproduct, such as a fatty amide. Similarly, the term “conditions suitablefor expression” means any conditions that allow a host cell tosynthesize a polypeptide. Suitable conditions include, for example,fermentation conditions. Fermentation conditions can comprise manyparameters, such as temperature ranges, levels of aeration, and mediacomposition. Each of these conditions, individually and in combination,allows the host cell to grow. Exemplary culture media include broths orgels. Generally, the medium includes a carbon source that can bemetabolized by a host cell directly. In addition, enzymes can be used inthe medium to facilitate the mobilization (e.g., the depolymerization ofstarch or cellulose to fermentable sugars) and subsequent metabolism ofthe carbon source.

As used herein, the phrase “carbon source” refers to a substrate orcompound suitable to be used as a source of carbon for prokaryotic orsimple eukaryotic cell growth. Carbon sources can be in various forms,including, but not limited to polymers, carbohydrates, acids, alcohols,aldehydes, ketones, amino acids, peptides, and gases (e.g., CO and CO₂).Exemplary carbon sources include, but are not limited to,monosaccharides, such as glucose, fructose, mannose, galactose, xylose,and arabinose; oligosaccharides, such as fructo-oligosaccharide andgalacto-oligosaccharide; polysaccharides such as starch, cellulose,pectin, and xylan; disaccharides, such as sucrose, maltose, andturanose; cellulosic material and variants such as methyl cellulose andsodium carboxymethyl cellulose; saturated or unsaturated fatty acidesters, succinate, lactate, and acetate; alcohols, such as ethanol,methanol, and glycerol, or mixtures thereof. The carbon source can alsobe a product of photosynthesis, such as glucose. In certain preferredembodiments, the carbon source is biomass. In other preferredembodiments, the carbon source is glucose.

The term “biomass” refers to any biological material from which a carbonsource is derived. In some embodiments, a biomass is processed into acarbon source, which is suitable for bioconversion. In otherembodiments, the biomass does not require further processing into acarbon source. The carbon source can be converted into a biofuel. Anexemplary source of biomass is plant matter or vegetation, such as corn,sugar cane, or switchgrass. Another exemplary source of biomass ismetabolic waste products, such as animal matter (e.g., cow manure).Further exemplary sources of biomass include algae and other marineplants. Biomass also includes waste products from industry, agriculture,forestry, and households, including, but not limited to, fermentationwaste, ensilage, straw, lumber, sewage, garbage, cellulosic urban waste,food leftovers, and glycerol. The term “biomass” also can refer tosources of carbon, such as carbohydrates (e.g., monosaccharides,disaccharides, or polysaccharides).

To determine if conditions are sufficient to allow production of aproduct or expression of a polypeptide, a host cell can be cultured, forexample, for about 4, 8, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, or more hours. Duringand/or after culturing, samples can be obtained and analyzed todetermine if the conditions allow production or expression. For example,the host cells in the sample or the medium in which the host cells weregrown can be tested for the presence of a desired product. When testingfor the presence of a fatty amide, assays, such as, but not limited to,MS, thin layer chromatography (TLC), high-performance liquidchromatography (HPLC), liquid chromatography (LC), GC coupled with aflame ionization detector (FID), GC-MS, and LC-MS can be used. Whentesting for the expression of a polypeptide, techniques such as, but notlimited to, Western blotting and dot blotting may be used.

In the methods of the invention, the production and isolation of fattyamides can be enhanced by optimizing fermentation conditions. In someembodiments, fermentation conditions are optimized to increase thepercentage of the carbon source that is converted to hydrocarbonproducts. During normal cellular lifecycles, carbon is used in cellularfunctions, such as producing lipids, saccharides, proteins, organicacids, and nucleic acids. Reducing the amount of carbon necessary forgrowth-related activities can increase the efficiency of carbon sourceconversion to product. This can be achieved by, for example, firstgrowing host cells to a desired density (for example, a density achievedat the peak of the log phase of growth). At such a point, replicationcheckpoint genes can be harnessed to stop the growth of cells.Specifically, quorum sensing mechanisms (reviewed in Camilli et al.(2006) Science 311:1113; Venturi (2006) FEMS Microbiol. Rev. 30:274-291;and Reading et al. (2006) FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 254:1-11) can be used toactivate checkpoint genes, such as p53, p21, or other checkpoint genes.

Genes that can be activated to stop cell replication and growth in E.coli include umuDC genes. The overexpression of umuDC genes stops theprogression from stationary phase to exponential growth (Murli et al.(2000) J. Bacteriol. 182:1127-1135). UmuC is a DNA polymerase that cancarry out translesion synthesis over non-coding lesions which commonlyresult from ultraviolet (UV) and chemical mutagenesis. The umuDC geneproducts are involved in the process of translesion synthesis and alsoserve as a DNA sequence damage checkpoint. The umuDC gene productsinclude UmuC, UmuD, umuD′, UmuD′₂C, UmuD′₂, and UmuD₂. Simultaneously,product-producing genes can be activated, thereby minimizing the needfor replication and maintenance pathways to be used while a fatty amideor intermediate thereof is being made. Host cells can also be engineeredto express umuC and umuD from E. coli in pBAD24 under the prpBCDEpromoter system through de novo synthesis of this gene with theappropriate end-product production genes.

The host cell can be additionally engineered to express a recombinantcellulosome, which can allow the host cell to use cellulosic material asa carbon source. Exemplary cellulosomes suitable for use in the methodsof the disclosure include, e.g., the cellulosomes described inInternational Patent Application Publication WO 2008/100251. The hostcell also can be engineered to assimilate carbon efficiently and usecellulosic materials as carbon sources according to methods described inU.S. Pat. Nos. 5,000,000; 5,028,539; 5,424,202; 5,482,846; and5,602,030. In addition, the host cell can be engineered to express aninvertase so that sucrose can be used as a carbon source.

In some embodiments of the fermentation methods of the disclosure, thefermentation chamber encloses a fermentation that is undergoing acontinuous reduction, thereby creating a stable reductive environment.The electron balance can be maintained by the release of carbon dioxide(in gaseous form). Efforts to augment the NAD/H and NADP/H balance canalso facilitate in stabilizing the electron balance. The availability ofintracellular NADPH can also be enhanced by engineering the host cell toexpress an NADH:NADPH transhydrogenase. The expression of one or moreNADH:NADPH transhydrogenases converts the NADH produced in glycolysis toNADPH, which can enhance the production of fatty amides andintermediates thereof.

For small scale production, the engineered host cells can be grown inbatches of, for example, about 100 mL, 500 mL, 1 L, 2 L, 5 L, or 10 L;fermented; and induced to express a desired nucleic acid sequence, suchas a nucleic acid sequence encoding a PPS. For large scale production,the engineered host cells can be grown in batches of about 10 L, 100 L,1000 L, 10,000 L, 100,000 L, 1,000,000 L or larger; fermented; andinduced to express a desired nucleic acid sequence.

The fatty amides produced by the methods of disclosure generally areisolated from the host cell. The term “isolated” as used herein withrespect to products, such as fatty amides, refers to products that areseparated from cellular components, cell culture media, or chemical orsynthetic precursors. The fatty amides produced by the methods describedherein can be relatively immiscible in the fermentation broth, as wellas in the cytoplasm. Therefore, the fatty amides and derivatives thereofcan collect in an organic phase either intracellularly orextracellularly. The collection of the products in the organic phase canlessen the impact of the fatty amide on cellular function and can allowthe host cell to produce more product.

In some embodiments, the fatty amides produced by the methods ofdisclosure are purified. As used herein, the term “purify,” “purified,”or “purification” means the removal or isolation of a molecule from itsenvironment by, for example, isolation or separation. “Substantiallypurified” molecules are at least about 60% free (e.g., at least about70% free, at least about 75% free, at least about 85% free, at leastabout 90% free, at least about 95% free, at least about 97% free, atleast about 99% free) from other components with which they areassociated. As used herein, these terms also refer to the removal ofcontaminants from a sample. For example, the removal of contaminants canresult in an increase in the percentage of a fatty amide in a sample.For example, when a fatty amide is produced in a host cell, the fattyamide can be purified by the removal of host cell proteins. Afterpurification, the percentage of a fatty amide in the sample isincreased.

As used herein, the terms “purify,” “purified,” and “purification” arerelative terms which do not require absolute purity. Thus, for example,when a fatty amide is produced in host cells, a purified fatty amide isa fatty amide that is substantially separated from other cellularcomponents (e.g., nucleic acids, polypeptides, lipids, carbohydrates, orother hydrocarbons).

Additionally, a purified fatty amide preparation is a fatty amidepreparation in which the fatty amide is substantially free fromcontaminants, such as those that might be present followingfermentation. In some embodiments, a fatty amide is purified when atleast about 50% by weight of a sample is composed of the fatty amide. Inother embodiments, a fatty amide is purified when at least about 60%,e.g., at least about 70%, at least about 80%, at least about 85%, atleast about 90%, at least about 92%, by weight of a sample is composedof the fatty amide. Alternatively, or in addition, a fatty amide ispurified when less than about 100%, e.g., less than about 99%, less thanabout 98%, less than about 95%, less than about 90%, or less than about80%, by weight of a sample is composed of the fatty amide. Thus, apurified fatty amide can have a purity level bounded by any two of theabove endpoints. For example, a fatty amide can be purified when atleast about 80%-95%, at least about 85%-99%, or at least about 90%-98%of a sample is composed of the fatty amide.

The fatty amide may be present in the extracellular environment, or itmay be isolated from the extracellular environment of the host cell. Incertain embodiments, a fatty amide is secreted from the host cell. Inother embodiments, a fatty amide is transported into the extracellularenvironment. In yet other embodiments, the fatty amide is passivelytransported into the extracellular environment. A fatty amide can beisolated from a host cell using methods known in the art, such as thosedisclosed in International Patent Application Publications WO2010/042664 and WO 2010/062480.

The methods described herein can result in the production of homogeneouscompounds wherein at least about 60%, at least about 70%, at least about80%, at least about 90%, or at least about 95%, of the fatty amidesproduced will have fatty chains that vary by less than 6 carbons, lessthan 5 carbons, less than 4 carbons, less than 3 carbons, or less thanabout 2 carbons. Alternatively, or in addition, the methods describedherein can result in the production of homogeneous compounds whereinless than about 98%, less than about 95%, less than about 90%, less thanabout 80%, or less than about 70% of the fatty amides produced will havefatty chains that vary by less than 6 carbons, less than 5 carbons, lessthan 4 carbons, less than 3 carbons, or less than about 2 carbons. Thus,the fatty amides can have a degree of homogeneity bounded by any two ofthe above endpoints. For example, the fatty amide can have a degree ofhomogeneity wherein about 70%-95%, about 80%-98%, or about 90%-95% ofthe fatty amides produced will have fatty chains that vary by less than6 carbons, less than 5 carbons, less than 4 carbons, less than 3carbons, or less than about 2 carbons. These compounds also can beproduced with a relatively uniform degree of saturation.

As a result of the methods of the invention, one or more of the titer,yield, or productivity of the fatty amide produced by the recombinantmicroorganism engineered to comprise a nucleic acid sequence encoding apolypeptide that catalyzes the conversion of a primary amine and an acylthioester to a fatty amide is increased relative to that of thecorresponding wild-type microorganism.

The term “titer” refers to the quantity of fatty amide produced per unitvolume of host cell culture. In any aspect of the compositions andmethods described herein, a fatty amide is produced at a titer of 25mg/L or more, 50 mg/L or more, 75 mg/L or more, 100 mg/L or more, 125mg/L or more, 150 mg/L or more, 175 mg/L or more, 200 mg/L or more, 250mg/L or more, 300 mg/L or more, 350 mg/L or more, 400 mg/L or more, 450mg/L or more, 500 mg/L or more, 600 mg/L or more, 700 mg/L or more, 800mg/L or more, 900 mg/L or more, or 1000 mg/L or more. Alternatively, orin addition, the fatty amide is produced at a titer of 2000 mg/L orless, 1900 mg/L or less, 1800 mg/L or less, 1700 mg/L or less, 1600 mg/Lor less, 1500 mg/L or less, 1400 mg/L or less, 1300 mg/L or less, 1200mg/L or less, 1100 mg/L or less, 1000 mg/L or less, 900 mg/L or less,800 mg/L or less, 700 mg/L or less, 600 mg/L or less, 500 mg/L or less,400 mg/L or less, 300 mg/L or less, or 200 mg/L or less. Thus, the fattyamide is produced at a titer bounded by any two of the above endpoints.For example, the fatty amide can be produced at a titer of 150-1000mg/L, 200-500 mg/L, 500-1500 mg/L, or 300-1300 mg/L. In otherembodiments, a fatty amide is produced at a titer of more than 2000mg/L, more than 5000 mg/L, more than 10,000 mg/L, or higher, such as 50g/L, 70 g/L, 100 g/L, 120 g/L, 150 g/L, or 200 g/L.

The term “yield” refers to the efficiency by which an input carbonsource is converted to product (i.e., fatty amide) in a host cell. Foroxygen-containing carbon sources (e.g., glucose and other carbohydratebased sources), the oxygen must be released in the form of carbondioxide. Thus, for every two oxygen atoms released, a carbon atom isalso released leading to a maximal theoretical metabolic efficiency ofapproximately 34% (w/w) (for fatty acid derived products). This figure,however, changes for other organic compounds and carbon sources. Typicalyield reported in the literature are approximately less than 5%. Hostcells engineered to produce fatty amides according to the methods of thedisclosure can have a yield of about 3% or more, about 5% or more, about10% or more, about 15% or more, about 18% or more, or about 20% or more.Alternatively, or in addition, the yield is about 30% or less, about 27%or less, about 25% or less, about 22% or less, about 20% or less, about17% or less, about 13% or less, or about 10% or less. Thus, the yieldcan be bounded by any two of the above endpoints. For example, the yieldof the fatty amide produced by the recombinant microorganism of thedisclosure can be about 5% to about 25%, about 10% to about 25%, about10% to about 22%, about 15% to about 27%, or about 18% to about 22%. Inother embodiments, the yield is greater than 30%.

The term “productivity” refers to the quantity of fatty amide producedper unit volume of host cell culture per unit density of host cellculture. In any aspect of the compositions and methods described herein,the productivity of a fatty amide produced by a recombinantmicroorganism is about 3 mg/L/OD₆₀₀ or more, about 6 mg/L/OD₆₀₀ or more,about 9 mg/L/OD₆₀₀ or more, about 12 mg/L/OD₆₀₀ or more, about 15mg/L/OD₆₀₀ or more, about 18 mg/L/OD₆₀₀ or more, or about 20 mg/L/OD₆₀₀or more. Alternatively, or in addition, the productivity is about 50mg/L/OD₆₀₀ or less, about 40 mg/L/OD₆₀₀ or less, about 30 mg/L/OD₆₀₀ orless, about 25 mg/L/OD₆₀₀ or less, about 20 mg/L/OD₆₀₀ or less, about 17mg/L/OD₆₀₀ or less, or about 10 mg/L/OD₆₀₀ or less. Thus, theproductivity can be bounded by any two of the above endpoints. Forexample, the productivity can be about 3 to about 30 mg/L/OD₆₀₀, about 6to about 20 mg/L/OD₆₀₀, or about 15 to about 30 mg/L/OD₆₀₀.

The disclosure also provides a fatty amide produced by the recombinantmicroorganisms and methods described herein. A bioproduct (e.g., a fattyamide) produced by the recombinant microorganisms and methods of thedisclosure can be distinguished from organic compounds derived frompetrochemical carbon on the basis of dual carbon-isotopic fingerprintingor ¹⁴C dating. Additionally, the specific source of biosourced carbon(e.g., glucose vs. glycerol) can be determined by dual carbon-isotopicfingerprinting (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,169,588).

The ability to distinguish bioproducts from petroleum-based organiccompounds is beneficial in tracking these materials in commerce. Forexample, organic compounds or chemicals comprising bothbiologically-based and petroleum-based carbon isotope profiles may bedistinguished from organic compounds and chemicals made only ofpetroleum-based materials. Hence, the fatty amides prepared inaccordance with the inventive methods may be followed in commerce on thebasis of their unique carbon isotope profile.

Bioproducts can be distinguished from petroleum-based organic compoundsby comparing the stable carbon isotope ratio (¹³C/¹²C) in each fuel. The¹³C/¹²C ratio in a given bioproduct is a consequence of the ¹³C/¹²Cratio in atmospheric carbon dioxide at the time the carbon dioxide isfixed. It also reflects the precise metabolic pathway. Regionalvariations also occur. Petroleum, C₃ plants (the broadleaf), C₄ plants(the grasses), and marine carbonates all show significant differences in¹³C/¹²C and the corresponding δ¹³C values. Furthermore, lipid matter ofC₃ and C₄ plants analyze differently than materials derived from thecarbohydrate components of the same plants as a consequence of themetabolic pathway.

The ¹³C measurement scale was originally defined by a zero set by PeeDee Belemnite (PDB) limestone, where values are given in parts perthousand deviations from this material. The “δ¹³C” values are expressedin parts per thousand (per mil), abbreviated, % o, and are calculated asfollows:δ¹³C(%o)=[(¹³C/¹²C)_(sample)—(¹³C/¹²C)_(standard)]/(¹³C/¹²C)_(standard)×1000

In some embodiments, a fatty amide produced according to the methods ofthe disclosure has a δ¹³C of about −30 or greater, about −28 or greater,about −27 or greater, about −20 or greater, about −18 or greater, about−15 or greater, about −13 or greater, or about −10 or greater.Alternatively, or in addition, a fatty amide has a δ¹³C of about −4 orless, about −5 or less, about −8 or less, about −10 or less, about −13or less, about −15 or less, about −18 or less, or about −20 or less.Thus, the fatty amide can have a δ¹³C bounded by any two of the aboveendpoints. For example, the fatty amide can have a δ¹³C of about −30 toabout −15, about −27 to about −19, about −25 to about −21, about −15 toabout −5, about −13 to about −7, or about −13 to about −10. In someembodiments, the fatty amide can have a δ¹³C of about −10, −11, −12, or−12.3. In other embodiments, the fatty amide has a δ¹³C of about −15.4or greater. In yet other embodiments, the fatty amide has a δ¹³C ofabout −15.4 to about −10.9, or a δ¹³C of about −13.92 to about −13.84.

Bioproducts can also be distinguished from petroleum-based organiccompounds by comparing the amount of ¹⁴C in each compound. Because ¹⁴Chas a nuclear half life of 5730 years, petroleum based fuels containing“older” carbon can be distinguished from bioproducts which contain“newer” carbon (see, e.g., Currie, “Source Apportionment of AtmosphericParticles”, Characterization of Environmental Particles, J. Buffle andH. P. van Leeuwen, Eds., Vol. I of the IUPAC Environmental AnalyticalChemistry Series, Lewis Publishers, Inc., pp. 3-74 (1992)).

¹⁴C can be measured by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS), with resultsgiven in units of “fraction of modern carbon” (f_(M)). f_(M) is definedby National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) StandardReference Materials (SRMs) 4990B and 4990C. As used herein, “fraction ofmodem carbon” or f_(M) has the same meaning as defined by NationalInstitute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Standard ReferenceMaterials (SRMs) 4990B and 4990C, known as oxalic acids standards HOxIand HOxII, respectively. The fundamental definition relates to 0.95times the ¹⁴C/¹²C isotope ratio HOxI (referenced to AD 1950). This isroughly equivalent to decay-corrected pre-Industrial Revolution wood.For the current living biosphere (plant material), f_(M) isapproximately 1.1.

In some embodiments, a fatty amide produced according to the methods ofthe disclosure has a f_(M) ¹⁴C of at least about 1, e.g., at least about1.003, at least about 1.01, at least about 1.04, at least about 1.111,at least about 1.18, or at least about 1.124. Alternatively, or inaddition, the fatty amide has an f_(M) ¹⁴C of about 1.130 or less, e.g.,about 1.124 or less, about 1.18 or less, about 1.111 or less, or about1.04 or less. Thus, the fatty amide can have a f_(M) ¹⁴C bounded by anytwo of the above endpoints. For example, the fatty amide can have af_(M) ¹⁴C of about 1.003 to about 1.124, a f_(M) ¹⁴C of about 1.04 toabout 1.18, or a f_(M) ¹⁴C of about 1.111 to about 1.124.

Another measurement of ¹⁴C is known as the percent of modem carbon,i.e., pMC. For an archaeologist or geologist using ¹⁴C dates, AD 1950equals “zero years old.” This also represents 100 pMC. “Bomb carbon” inthe atmosphere reached almost twice the normal level in 1963 at the peakof thermo-nuclear weapons testing. Its distribution within theatmosphere has been approximated since its appearance, showing valuesthat are greater than 100 pMC for plants and animals living since AD1950. It has gradually decreased over time with today's value being near107.5 pMC. This means that a fresh biomass material, such as corn, wouldgive a ¹⁴C signature near 107.5 pMC. Petroleum-based compounds will havea pMC value of zero. Combining fossil carbon with present day carbonwill result in a dilution of the present day pMC content. By presuming107.5 pMC represents the ¹⁴C content of present day biomass materialsand 0 pMC represents the ¹⁴C content of petroleum-based products, themeasured pMC value for that material will reflect the proportions of thetwo component types. For example, a material derived 100% from presentday soybeans would have a radiocarbon signature near 107.5 pMC. If thatmaterial was diluted 50% with petroleum-based products, the resultingmixture would have a radiocarbon signature of approximately 54 pMC.

A biologically-based carbon content is derived by assigning “100%” equalto 107.5 pMC and “0%” equal to 0 pMC. For example, a sample measuring 99pMC will provide an equivalent biologically-based carbon content of 93%.This value is referred to as the mean biologically-based carbon resultand assumes that all of the components within the analyzed materialoriginated either from present day biological material orpetroleum-based material.

In some embodiments, a fatty amide produced according to the methods ofthe disclosure has a pMC of at least about 50, at least about 60, atleast about 70, at least about 75, at least about 80, at least about 85,at least about 90, at least about 95, at least about 96, at least about97, or at least about 98. Alternatively, or in addition, the fatty amidehas a pMC of about 108 or less, about 105 or less, about 102 or less,about 99 or less, about 96 or less, about 93 or less, about 90 or less,about 85 or less, or about 80 or less. Thus, the fatty amide can have apMC bounded by any two of the above endpoints. For example, a fattyamide can have a pMC of about 50 to about 100; about 60 to about 105;about 70 to about 100; about 80 to about 105; about 85 to about 100;about 87 to about 98; or about 90 to about 95. In other embodiments, afatty amide described herein has a pMC of about 90, about 91, about 92,about 93, about 94, or about 94.2.

A fatty amide produced by any of the recombinant microorganisms andmethods described herein can be used directly as a surfactant ordetergent per se, or the fatty amide can be formulated into a personal,pet, or household cleaning composition. Surfactant, detergent, andcleaning compositions and methods for the production thereof are wellknown to those of skill in the art, and are described in more detail in,e.g., U.S. Patent Application Publication 2011/0206630, which isincorporated in its entirety by reference herein.

Thus, the disclosure provides surfactant, detergent, and cleaningcompositions comprising a fatty amide produced by any of the methodsdescribed herein. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that,depending upon the intended purpose of the surfactant, detergent, orcleaning composition, different fatty amides can be produced and used.For example, when the fatty amides described herein are used as afeedstock for surfactant or detergent production, one of ordinary skillin the art will appreciate that the characteristics of the fatty amidefeedstock will affect the characteristics of the surfactant or detergentcomposition produced. Hence, the characteristics of the surfactant ordetergent composition can be selected for by producing particular fattyamides for use as a feedstock.

A fatty amide-based surfactant or detergent of the disclosure can bemixed with other surfactants and/or detergents well known in the art.The fatty amide can be present in the mixture in an amount of 10 weightpercent (wt. %) or more, 15 wt. % or more, 20 wt. % or more, 30 wt. % ormore, 40 wt. % or more, 50 wt. % or more, 60 wt. % or more, or 70 wt. %or more, based on the total weight of the mixture. Alternatively, or inaddition, the fatty amide can be present in the mixture in an amount of95 wt. % or less, 90 wt. % or less, 80 wt. % or less, 70 wt. % or less,60 wt. % or less, 50 wt. % or less, or 40 wt. % or less, based on thetotal weight of the mixture. Thus, the fatty amide can be present in themixture in an amount bounded by any two of the above endpoints. Forexample, the fatty amide can be present in the mixture in an amount of15-40%, 30-90%, 50-95%, or 40-50%.

A fatty amide-based surfactant can be formulated into a cleaningcomposition to impart detergency and cleaning power to the cleaningcomposition. The fatty amide can be present in the cleaning compositionin an amount of 0.001 wt. % or more, 0.1 wt. % or more, 1 wt. % or more,10 wt. % or more, 20 wt. % or more, or 40 wt. % or more, based on thetotal weight of the cleaning composition. Alternatively, or in addition,the fatty amide can be present in the cleaning composition in an amountof 60 wt. % or less, 50 wt. % or less, 40 wt. % or less, 30 wt. % orless, 15 wt. % or less, or 5 wt. % or less, based on the total weight ofthe cleaning composition. Thus, the fatty amide can be present in thecleaning composition in an amount bounded by any two of the aboveendpoints. For example, the fatty amide can be formulated into acleaning composition in an amount of 0.1-10 wt. %, 10-15 wt. %, 20-40wt. %, or 0.001-5 wt. %.

A cleaning composition of the disclosure can be in solid form, such as atablet, granule, powder, or compact. The cleaning composition also canbe in liquid form, such as a fluid, gel, paste, emulsion, orconcentrate.

In certain embodiments, the cleaning composition of the disclosure is aliquid or solid laundry detergent composition. In some embodiments, thecleaning composition is a hard surface cleaning composition, wherein thehard surface cleaning composition preferably impregnates a nonwovensubstrate. As used herein, “impregnate” means that the hard surfacecleaning composition is placed in contact with a nonwoven substrate suchthat at least a portion of the nonwoven substrate is penetrated by thehard surface cleaning composition. For example, the hard surfacecleaning composition preferably saturates the nonwoven substrate. Inother embodiments, the cleaning composition of the disclosure is a carcare composition, which is useful for cleaning various surfaces such ashard wood, tile, ceramic, plastic, leather, metal, and/or glass. In someembodiments, the cleaning composition is a dishwashing composition, suchas, for example, a liquid hand dishwashing composition, a solidautomatic dishwashing composition, a liquid automatic dishwashingcomposition, and a tab/unit dose form automatic dishwashing composition.

In other embodiments, the cleaning composition can be used in industrialenvironments for cleaning various equipment and machinery, and for usein oil drilling operations. For example, the cleaning composition of thedisclosure can be particularly suited in environments wherein it comesinto contact with free hardness and in compositions that requirehardness tolerant surfactant systems, such as when used to aid oildrilling.

In some embodiments, a fatty amide produced by any of the recombinantmicroorganisms and methods of the disclosure is formulated into personalor pet care composition such as a shampoo, body wash, face wash, orliquid or solid soap.

A cleaning composition containing a fatty amide produced by any of therecombinant microorganisms and methods of the disclosure can compriseother cleaning adjuncts which are well known to those of skill in theart. Common cleaning adjuncts applicable to most cleaning compositions,including household cleaning compositions, personal care compositions,and the like, include solvents, solubilizing agents, carriers, builders,enzymes, polymers, suds boosters, suds suppressors (antifoam), dyes,fillers, germicides, hydrotropes, anti-oxidants, perfumes, pro-perfumes,enzyme stabilizing agents, pigments, and the like. In some embodiments,the cleaning composition is a liquid cleaning composition, wherein thecomposition comprises one or more selected from solvents, chelatingagents, dispersants, and water. In other embodiments, the cleaningcomposition is a solid, wherein the composition further comprises, forexample, an inorganic filler salt. Inorganic filler salts areconventional ingredients of solid cleaning compositions, present insubstantial amounts, varying from, for example, about 10 wt. % to about35 wt. %. Suitable filler salts include, for example, alkali andalkaline-earth metal salts of sulfates and chlorides. An exemplaryfiller salt is sodium sulfate.

Household cleaning compositions (e.g., laundry detergents and householdsurface cleaners) can comprise one or more additional ingredientsselected from bleaches, bleach activators, catalytic materials,dispersant polymers, silvercare, anti-tarnish and/or anti-corrosionagents, alkalinity sources, processing aids, dye transfer inhibitingagents, brighteners, structure elasticizing agents, fabric softeners,anti-abrasion agents, and other fabric care agents. The cleaningadjuncts particularly useful for household cleaning compositions and thelevels of use have been described in, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,576,282,6,306,812 and 6,326,348. A list of suitable laundry or other householdcleaning adjuncts is described in, e.g., International PatentApplication Publication WO 99/05245.

Personal care, pet care, or cosmetic compositions (e.g., shampoos,facial cleansers, hand sanitizers, blushes, bronzers, and the like) cancomprise one or more additional ingredients selected from conditioningagents (e.g., vitamins, silicone, silicone emulsion stabilizingcomponents), cationic cellulose, or polymers (e.g., guar polymers),anti-dandruff agents, antibacterial agents, gel-forming agents,suspending agents, viscosity modifiers, dyes, non-volatile solvents ordiluents (water soluble or insoluble), foam boosters, pediculicides, pHadjusting agents, perfumes, preservatives, chelators, proteins, skinactive agents, sunscreens, UV absorbers, minerals, herbal/fruit/foodextracts, sphingolipid derivatives, and clay.

The disclosure also provides a fuel additive comprising a fatty amideproduced by any of the recombinant microorganisms and methods describedherein. In certain embodiments, the fuel additive is selected from anengine performance additive, detergent, dispersant, anti-wear agent,viscosity index modifier, friction modifier, antioxidant, rustinhibitor, antifoaming agent, seal fix, lubricity additive, pour pointdepressant, cloud point reducer, smoke suppressant, drag reducingadditive, metal deactivator, biocide and demulsifier. Fuel additives aredescribed in more detail in U.S. Patent Application Publication2010/0257777, which is incorporated by reference herein.

In certain embodiments, the fuel additive comprising a fatty amideproduced by any of the recombinant microorganisms and methods is blendedinto a package comprising the fatty amide and one or more base oils usedas a solvent for the fatty amide. Depending on grade and/or type, thebase oil may provide a varying degree of performance benefit to anadditive package, including, for example, extreme temperature benefits,anti-oxidative benefits, or a suitable pour point.

The disclosure also provides a pharmaceutical composition comprising afatty amide produced by any of the recombinant microorganisms andmethods described herein and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Thepharmaceutical composition can contain additional components, such as,for example, diluents, adjuvants, excipients, preservatives, pHadjusting agents, and the like, as well as additional therapeuticagents, such as, for example, therapeutic agents useful in the treatmentof a particular indication (e.g., pain or inflammation).

The pharmaceutical composition can be a solid (e.g., tablet, capsule,sublingual tablet, powder, sachet) composition. The pharmaceuticalcomposition also can be a liquid (e.g., aqueous liquid, gel, lotion,cream) composition. The pharmaceutical composition can be formulated foradministration by any suitable route, such as, for example, anadministration route selected from the group consisting of oral,topical, intravenous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, intrathecal,epidural, percutaneous, subcutaneous, transmucosal, and intranasalroutes.

The disclosure also provides a method of preventing or treating adisease or condition in a subject in need thereof comprisingadministering to the subject an effective amount of a fatty amideproduced by any of the recombinant microorganisms and methods describedherein, thereby preventing or treating the disease or condition in thesubject.

By “effective amount” or “therapeutically effective amount,” it is meantan amount that relieves (to some extent, as judged by a skilled medicalpractitioner) one or more symptoms of the disease or condition in ahuman or animal subject. Additionally, by “effective amount” or“therapeutically effective amount,” it is meant an amount that returnsto normal, either partially or completely, physiological or biochemicalparameters associated with or causative of a disease or condition. Aclinician skilled in the art can determine the therapeutically effectiveamount of a composition in order to treat or prevent a particulardisease condition, or disorder when it is administered. The preciseamount of the composition required to be therapeutically effective willdepend upon numerous factors, e.g., such as the specific activity of theactive substance, the delivery device employed, physical characteristicsof the substance, purpose for the administration, in addition to manypatient specific considerations. The determination of amount of acomposition that must be administered to be an effective amount or atherapeutically effective amount is routine in the art and within theskill of an ordinarily skilled clinician.

In some embodiments, an effective amount may be 1 ng or more, e.g., 10ng or more, 100 ng or more, 1 μg or more, 10 μg or more, 100 μg or more,1 mg or more, 10 mg or more, 50 mg or more, or 100 mg or more of a fattyamide of the disclosure per dosage unit. Alternatively, or in addition,an effective amount may be 5 g or less, 1 g or less, 500 mg or less, 250mg or less, 100 mg or less, 75 mg or less, 25 mg or less, 10 mg or less,or 1 mg or less of a fatty amide of the disclosure per dosage unit.Thus, the fatty amide can be present in a dosage unit in an amountbounded by any two of the above endpoints. For example, the fatty amidecan be present in a dosage unit in an amount of 100 ng-10 mg, 50 mg-250mg, 1 μg-1 mg, or 100 mg-500 mg. A dosage unit comprising an effectiveamount of a fatty amide of the disclosure may be administered in asingle daily dose, or the total daily dosage may be administered individed doses of two, three, four times or more daily, as needed.

The disease or condition can be any disease or condition having one ormore symptoms and/or physiological or biochemical parameters responsiveto therapy with a fatty amide of the invention. In some embodiments, thedisease is an inflammatory disease, and the fatty amide of thedisclosure is administered in an amount sufficient to reduceinflammation. In certain embodiments, the inflammatory disorder isautoimmune disease, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis, or Crohn'sdisease.

In certain embodiments, the condition is pain, and the fatty amide ofthe disclosure is administered in an amount sufficient to provideanalgesia.

In other embodiments, the condition is hypertension, and the fatty amideof the disclosure is administered in an amount sufficient to cause thereduction of blood pressure.

Anandamide is an endogenous agonist of the cannabinoid (CB) 1 receptorand, to a lesser extent, the CB2 receptor and the vanilloid 1 receptor(Tan et al., supra). Administration of anandamide to human and animalsubjects has been demonstrated to have myriad physiological effects,including regulating food intake and body weight, decreasing bloodpressure, decreasing heart rate, protecting against myocardialreperfusion injury, reducing acute pain elicited by chemical,mechanical, or thermal stimuli, reducing chronic pain of neuropathic orinflammatory origin, reducing inflammation, providing neuroprotection inacute neuronal injury (e.g., traumatic brain injury, stroke, andepilepsy) and in chronic neurodegenerative disorders, (e.g., multiplesclerosis, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, amyotrophiclateral sclerosis, and Alzheimer's disease), promoting bronchodilation,reducing intraocular pressure (e.g., in glaucoma patients), andpromoting tumor cell apoptosis (see, e.g., Pacher et al. (2006)Pharmacol. Rev. 58 (3):389-462).

In some embodiments, the fatty amide is anandamide produced by therecombinant microorganisms and methods described herein, and the diseaseor condition is one of the aforementioned diseases or conditions capableof being treated or prevented by the administration of an effectiveamount of anandamide.

PEA and OEA are endogenous agonists of peroxisome proliferator-activatedreceptor-α (PPAR-α) (Fu et al. (2003) Nature 425 (6953): 90-93; and LoVerme et al., supra). Administration of PEA or OEA to human and animalsubjects has been demonstrated to evoke many of the same responseselicited by anandamide, including regulating food intake and bodyweight, reducing pain and inflammation, providing neuroprotection, andreducing intraocular pressure (see, e.g., Fu et al., supra, Tan et al.,supra, Lo Verme et al., supra, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,348,498 and6,656,972).

In some embodiments, the fatty amide is PEA produced by the recombinantmicroorganisms and methods described herein, and the disease orcondition is one of the aforementioned diseases or conditions capable ofbeing treated or prevented by the administration of an effective amountof PEA. In other embodiments, the fatty amide is OEA produced by therecombinant microorganisms and methods described herein, and the diseaseor condition is one of the aforementioned diseases or conditions capableof being treated or prevented by the administration of an effectiveamount of OEA.

EXAMPLES

The following specific examples are intended to illustrate thedisclosure and should not be construed as limiting the scope of theclaims.

Example 1

This example illustrates the construction of a genetically engineeredmicroorganism in which the expression of an acyl-CoA dehydrogenase, anouter membrane protein receptor, a pyruvate formate lyase, a lactatedehydrogenase, and a transcriptional repressor were attenuated.

E. coli MG1655 DV4 is a genetically engineered E. coli K straincomprising fadE (an acyl-CoA dehydrogenase), fhuA (an outer membraneprotein receptor), pflB (a pyruvate formate lyase), and IdhA (a lactatedehydrogenase) gene deletions (see U.S. Patent Application Publications2011/0072714 and 2011/0162259, which are incorporated by referenceherein). The fabR gene of E. coli MG1655 (GenBank Accession No.AAC76945), which encodes a transcriptional repressor was deleted from E.coli MG1655 DV4 using the Lambda Red System according to Datsenko et al.(2000) Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 97:6640-6645, with the followingmodifications described herein.

The two primers used to create the deletion strain were:

fabR_del_F: (SEQ ID NO: 4)5′-ATGTTTTATTGCGTTACCGTTCATTCACAATACTGGAGCAATCCAGTATGATTCCGGGGATCCGTCGACC-3′; and fabR_del_R: (SEQ ID NO: 5)5′-CGTACCTCTATCTTGATTTGCTTGTTTCATTACTCGTCCTTCACATTTCCTGTAGGCTGGAGCTGCTTCG-3′.

The fabR_del_F and fabR_del_R primers were used to amplify the kanamycinresistance (Km^(R)) cassette from plasmid pKD13 by PCR, as described byDatsenko et al., supra. The resulting PCR product was then used totransform electro-competent E. coli MG1655 DV4 cells containing plasmidpKD46, which cells were previously induced with arabinose for 3-4 hours,as described by Datsenko et al., supra. Following a 3 hour outgrowth inSOC medium at 37° C., the cells were plated on Luria agar platescontaining 50 μg/mL of kanamycin. Colonies that were resistant tokanamycin were identified and isolated after an overnight incubation at37° C. Disruption of the fabR gene was confirmed using primers flankingthe E. coli fabR gene.

Confirmation of the deletion of fabR was performed using the followingprimers:

fabR_3: (SEQ ID NO: 6) 5′-GCGACGCGCGCACCTTGCTTAACCAGGCCC-3′ fabR_4:(SEQ ID NO: 7) 5′-CGCATCTTCGCGCCAATCCAGAACACC-3′.

After the deletions were confirmed, a single colony was used to removethe Km^(R) marker in accordance with the method described by Datsenko etal., supra. The resulting MG1655 E. coli strain having fadE, fhuA, pflB,IdhA, and fabR gene deletions was named E. coli MG1655ΔfadE_ΔfhuA_ΔpflB_ΔldhA_ΔfabR or E. coli MG1655 DG5.

This example shows the construction of E. coli MG1655 DG5, which is agenetically engineered microorganism in which the expression of anacyl-CoA dehydrogenase, an outer membrane protein receptor, a pyruvateformate lyase, a lactate dehydrogenase, and a transcriptional repressorwere attenuated.

Example 2

This example illustrates the construction of a genetically engineeredmicroorganism in which nucleotide sequences encoding a thioesterase('tesA) and an acyl-CoA synthase (fadD) were integrated into themicroorganism's chromosome under the control of an inducible promoter.

'tesA is a nucleotide sequence comprising a leaderless E. coli tesA gene(GenBank entry AAC73596, Accession U00096.2). 'tesA encodes an E. colithioesterase (EC 3.1.1.5, 3.1.2.-) in which the first twenty-five aminoacids were deleted and the amino acid in position 26, alanine, wasreplaced with methionine. That methionine then became the first aminoacid of 'tesA (Cho et al. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270:4216-4219). E. colifadD (GenBank entry AAC74875; Accession U00096.2) encodes an acyl-CoAsynthase.

Construction of pACYC-Ptrc Plasmid Containing 'tesA or 'tesA-fadD

The 'tesA gene was obtained from a pETDuet-1-'tesA plasmid, which wasconstructed by cloning the 'tesA gene into an NdeI/AvrII digestedpETDuet-1 plasmid (Novagen, Madison, Wis.) as described previously (seeU.S. Patent Application Publication 2010/0242345 and InternationalPatent Application Publication WO 2007/136762, which are incorporated intheir entireties by reference herein). The fadD gene was obtained from apHZ1.61 plasmid (SEQ ID NO: 8), which was constructed by cloning thefadD gene into a pCDFDuet-1 plasmid (Novagen, Madison, Wis.) asdescribed previously (see also U.S. Patent Application Publication2010/0257777, which is incorporated in its entirety by referenceherein). The 'tesA and fadD genes were amplified from pETDuet-1-'tesAand pHZ1.61, respectively, using high fidelity PHUSION™ polymerase (NewEngland Biolabs, Inc., Ipswich, Mass.) and the following primers:

′tesAForward- (SEQ ID NO: 9) 5′-CTCTAGAAATAATTTAACTTTAAGTAGGAGAUAGGTACCCATGGCGGACACGTTATTGAT-3′ ′tesAReverse- (SEQ ID NO: 10)5′-CTTCGAATTCCATTTAAATTATTTCTAGAGTCATTATGAGTC ATGATTTACTAAAGGC-3′fadDForward- (SEQ ID NO: 11)5′-CTCTAGAAATAATTTTAGTTAAGTATAAGAAGGAGATATACC ATGGTGAAGAAGGTTTGGCTTAA-3′fadDReverse- (SEQ ID NO: 12)5′-CTTCGAATTCCATTTAAATTATTTCTAGAGTTATCAGGCTTTA TTGTCCAC-3′.

To construct the pACYC-'tesA plasmid, the 'tesA PCR product and apACYC-Ptrc vector (SEQ ID NO: 13) were digested with NcoI and EcoRI.Following overnight ligation with T4 DNA ligase (New England Biolabs,Ipswich, Mass.), the DNA product was transformed into TOP10® ONE SHOT®cells (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.). The insertion of 'tesA into thepACYC-Ptrc vector was confirmed by restriction digestion. A SwaIrestriction site and overlapping fragments for IN-FUSION™ cloning(Clontech, Mountain View, Calif.) also were created at the 3′-end of the'tesA insert.

To construct the pACYC-Ptrc-'tesA-fadD plasmid, the pACYC-Ptrc-'tesAplasmid was subjected to an overnight restriction digestion by SwaI. ThefadD PCR product amplified from pHZ1.61 was cloned downstream from the'tesA gene using the IN-FUSION™ PCR Cloning System (Clontech, MountainView, Calif.). The insertion of fadD was verified with restrictiondigestion. The insertion of fadD destroys the SwaI site following the'tesA gene, but recreates a new SwaI site at the 3′-end of fadD.

Construction of Tn7tes and Tn7tesfad Plasmids

The pACYC-Ptrc-'tesA and pACYC-Ptrc-'tesA-fadD plasmids were used astemplates to generate Ptrc-'tesA and Ptrc-'tesA-fadD cassettes,respectively. The following primers were used to obtain the cassettes:

IFF: (SEQ ID NO: 14) 5′-GGGTCAATAGCGGCCGCCAATTCGCGCGCGAAGGCG-3′ IFR:(SEQ ID NO: 15) 5′-TGGCGCGCCTCCTAGGGCATTACGCTGACTTGACGGG-3′.

Plasmid pGRG25 (GenBank Accession No. DQ460223) was purified andsubjected to restriction digestions by NotI and AvrII (New EnglandBiolabs, Inc., Ipswich, Mass.). The Ptrc-'tesA cassette was cloned intothe NotI and AvrII restriction sites of pGRG25 using the IN-FUSION™ PCRcloning system (Clontech, Mountain View, Calif.), creating the Tn7tesplasmid (SEQ ID NO: 16), wherein the lacI_(q) and Ptrc-'tesA genes areflanked by the left and right Tn7 ends. The Ptrc-'tesA-fadD cassette wascloned into the NotI and AvrII restriction sites of pGRG25 similarly,thereby creating the Tn7tesfad plasmid (SEQ ID NO: 17), wherein thelacI_(q) and Ptrc-'tesA-fadD genes are flanked by the left and right Tn7ends.

Generation of E. coli MG1655 DG5 Tn7-'tesA and E. coli MG1655 DG5Tn7-'tesA-fadD

The plasmids Tn7tes and Tn7tesfad were each electroporated separatelyinto strain E. coli MG1655 DG5 (described in Example 1) using a protocoldescribed by McKenzie et al., BMC Microbiology, 6:39 (2006). Afterelectroporation, ampicillin-resistant cells were selected by growth inan LB medium containing 0.1% glucose and 100 μg/mL carbenicilin at 32°C. overnight, followed by selection for cells comprising theTn7-transposition fractions by growth on LB plates containing 0.1%arabinose overnight at 32° C. Single colonies were streaked onto LBmedium plates with or without ampicillin and grown overnight at 42° C.to cure of Tn7tes or Tn7tesfad plasmids. Thus, the lacI_(q) andPtrc-'tesA or lacI_(q) and Ptrc-'tesA-fadD genes were integrated intothe attTn7 site on the E. coli MG1655 chromosome located between thepstS and glmS genes. Integration of these genes was confirmed by PCR andsequencing using the following primers:

attTn7.A: (SEQ ID NO: 18) 5′-GATGCTGGTGGCGAAGCTGT-3′ attTn7.C:(SEQ ID NO: 19) 5′-GTTGCGACGGTGGTACGCATAAC-3′.

The resulting strains were given the names E. coli MG1655 DG5 Tn7-'tesAand E. coli MG1655 DG5 Tn7-'tesA-fadD, accordingly.

The results of this example illustrate the generation of geneticallyengineered microorganisms in which nucleotide sequences encoding athioesterase (i.e., E. coli MG1655 DG5 Tn7-'tesA) or a thioesterase andan acyl-CoA synthase (i.e., E. coli MG1655 DG5 Tn7-'tesA-fadD) wereintegrated into the host cell's chromosome under the control of aninducible promoter.

Example 3

This example illustrates a method of producing N-palmitoylethanolamideby expressing a gene encoding a palmitoylputrescine synthase in agenetically engineered microorganism.

A gene encoding a bacterial palmitoylputrescine synthase (PPS),identified as GenBank Accession No. AY632377 (Brady, S. F., et al.(2004) J. Nat. Prod., 67:1283-1286) (SEQ ID NO: 2), was synthesized byDNA2.0 (Menlo Park, Calif.). The DNA2.0 plasmid, termed pJ201:30127, wasdesigned to contain an NcoI site flanking the start codon and a PmeIsite flanking the stop codon. The PPS encoding gene in pJ201:30127 wasnot codon optimized. The PPS encoding gene was subcloned into theexpression vector OP80, which has been described previously (see U.S.Patent Application Publication No. 2010/0154293, which is incorporatedin its entirety by reference herein). The OP80 vector is based uponpCL1920, which is a low copy plasmid that expresses operably linkedgenes under the control of the IPTG-inducible trc promoter. To constructthe OP80 vector expressing the PPS gene, plasmids OP80 and pJ201:30127were purified and subjected to restriction digestions with NcoI/PmeI(New England Biolabs, Inc., Ipswich, Mass.). The PPS encoding gene wasligated with T4 DNA ligase into the NcoI/PmeI digested OP80 plasmid. Theligation reaction was transformed into TOP10® E. coli cells, and thecells were plated onto LB agar containing spectinomycin. Ten colonieswere selected and tested for the PPS encoding insert by culturing thecolonies, isolating plasmid DNA, and digesting the plasmid DNA withNcoI/PmeI. One colony was positive for plasmid containing the PPSencoding insert by restriction digestion. The plasmid was confirmed tocontain the PPS encoding gene by sequence analysis, and was termed“OP80-PPS.” The OP80-PPS plasmid was then transformed into E. coliMG1655 strains DG5 (described in Example 1), DG5 Tn7-'tesA (described inExample 2), and DG5 Tn7-'tesA-fadD (described in Example 2). As acontrol, the OP80 empty vector was transformed into E. coli MG1655strains DG5, DG5 Tn7-'tesA, and DG5 Tn7-'tesA-fadD. All six strains werecultured in LB broth with no additional glucose. When each culturereached an OD₆₀₀ of 1.2, IPTG was added to a final concentration of 1mM, along with ethanolamine (0.1% (v/v)). After 24 hrs, the cultureswere harvested and extracted with ethyl acetate (2 volumes of culture to1 volume of ethyl acetate), and the organic fraction was collected andutilized for analysis of fatty species by GC-MS.

All samples were analyzed by GC-MS (Agilent 6850 GC with 5975B VL MSD)equipped with a 30 m×0.25 mm 0.25 μm film Agilent HP-5-MS column forseparation, with the mass detectors electron ionization (EI) in fullscan mode (50-500 m/z). One μL of the ethyl acetate extraction wasinjected on the Agilent splitless inlet set at 300° C. The column wastemperature programmed as follows: 100° C. for 5 min, increase to 320°C. at 20° C./min, and hold at 320° C. for 5 min. The carrier gas heliumwas set at a flow rate of 1.2 mL/min. A representative chromatogram withan interpretation of the mass spectra of E. coli MG1655 strain DG5transformed with OP80-PPS is shown in FIG. 1. A peak having a retentiontime of 13.1 min was identified in the GC-MS traces of all E. coliMG1655 strains DG5, DG5 Tn7-'tesA, and DG5 Tn7-'tesA-fadD transformedwith OP80-PPS. This peak was identified as N-palmitoylethanolamide. Thepeak identified as N-palmitoylethanolamide was not present in any of thecontrol strains transformed with empty vector.

It was estimated that approximately 200 mg/L of N-palmitoylethanolamidewas produced in E. coli MG1655 strain DG5 transformed with OP80-PPS. E.coli MG1655 strain DG5 is engineered to produce fatty acyl-ACP, whereasDG5 Tn7-'tesA is engineered to produce free fatty acid and DG5Tn7-'tesA-fadD is engineered to produce fatty acyl-CoA. Since theseresults demonstrated that all three strains producedN-palmitoylethanolamide, the production of N-palmitoylethanolamide inthe parental DG5 strain suggests that the PPS enzyme encoded by geneAY632377 uses C16:0 acyl-ACP as a substrate in the presence of theprimary ethanolamine. The N-palmitoylethanolamide identified in FIG. 1was further characterized by derivatization withN,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)-trifluoroacetamide (BSTFA), in which thehydroxyl group was trimethylsilyl-protected. As shown in FIG. 2A, a peakin the GC-MS trace having a retention time of 13.3 min was identified asthe trimethylsilyl (TMS)-protected product.

The results of this example illustrate a method of producingN-palmitoylethanolamide by expressing a PPS enzyme encoded by geneAY632377 in a bacterial strain that was engineered to produce fattyacyl-ACP. In addition, these results suggest that a single enzyme (i.e.,PPS) can perform a secondary amidation directly from acyl-ACP and aprimary amine head group in vivo.

Example 4

This example shows a method of producing N-palmitoylethanolamide byexpressing a gene encoding a palmitoylputrescine synthase in agenetically engineered microorganism.

The OP80 empty vector or OP80-PPS plasmid was transformed into E. coliMG1655 strains DG5, DG5 Tn7-'tesA, and DG5 Tn7-'tesA-fadD, as describedin Example 3. Each of the six strains was cultured overnight in LB brothwith no additional glucose. Then, each of the overnight cultures wasinoculated in nutrient rich media containing glucose. More specifically,1 mL of each of the overnight cultures was inoculated in triplicate intonutrient rich 2N-BT (2% glucose, nitrogen limited medium, 0.2M Bis-Tris,pH 7.0, 0.1% Triton): LB media (1:10) containing 1 mM IPTG, antibiotics,and 1% ethanolamine, and cultured in a pH-controlled incubator. After 48hrs, the OD₆₀₀ of each culture was recorded, and the cells wereharvested and extracted with ethyl acetate (2 volumes of culture to 1volume of ethyl acetate). The organic fractions were collected andutilized for GC-MS analysis as described in Example 3. A peak having aretention time of 13.1 min was found to be most abundant in the GC-MStrace for E. coli MG1655 strain DG5 Tn7-'tesA-fadD transformed withOP80-PPS. The peak having a retention time of 13.1 was second mostabundant in strain DG5 transformed with OP80-PPS, and third mostabundant in strain DG5 Tn7-'tesA transformed with OP80-PPS. The 13.1 minpeak was identified as N-palmitoylethanolamide from all strains. Thepeak identified as N-palmitoylethanolamide was not present in any of thecontrol DG5 strains transformed with empty vector.

As noted above, E. coli MG1655 strain DG5 Tn7-'tesA-fadD is engineeredto produce fatty acyl-CoA. Therefore, the production ofN-palmitoylethanolamide in the DG5 Tn7-'tesA-fadD strain suggests thatthe PPS enzyme encoded by gene AY632377 also can use fatty acyl-CoA as asubstrate in the presence of ethanolamine.

The results of this example show a method of producingN-palmitoylethanolamide by expressing a PPS enzyme encoded by geneAY632377 in a bacterial strain that was engineered to produce fattyacyl-CoA. In addition, these results suggest that a single enzyme (i.e.,PPS) can perform a secondary amidation directly from a fatty thioesterand a primary amine head group in vivo.

Example 5

This example shows a method of producing saturated and unsaturated fattyamides by expressing a gene encoding a PPS in a genetically engineeredmicroorganism.

Fatty 3-dimethylamino-1-propylamide is a precursor in the synthesis ofthe amphoteric detergent cocamidopropyl betaine (CAPB). To determinewhether fatty N-(3-dimethylamino-1-propylamine)amides could be producedin a microorganism genetically engineered to express a PPS, E. coliMG1655 strain DG5 cells were transformed with OP80 empty vector orOP80-PPS plasmid, and cultured overnight in LB broth with no additionalglucose. Then, each of the overnight cultures was inoculated in nutrientrich media containing glucose. More specifically, 1 mL of each of theovernight cultures was inoculated in triplicate into nutrient rich 2N-BT(2% glucose, nitrogen limited medium, 0.2M Bis-Tris, pH 7.0, 0.1%Triton): LB (1:10) media containing 1 mM IPTG, antibiotics, and 1%primary amine 3-dimethylamino-1-propylamine, and cultured in apH-controlled incubator. After 60 hrs, the OD₆₀₀ of each culture wasrecorded, and the cells were harvested and extracted with ethyl acetate(2 volumes of culture to 1 volume of ethyl acetate). The organicfractions were collected and utilized for GC-MS analysis as described inExample 3. The chromatogram was analyzed by extraction ion chromatogramfor ion 58, which is a common ion for fattyN-(3-dimethylamino-1-propylamine)amides. FattyN-(3-dimethylamino-1-propylamine)amides containing C12:0 (12.8 min),C14:0 (13.2 min), C16:1 (13.5 min), C16:0 (13.6 min), and C18:1 (14.3min) fatty chains were identified in the GC-MS trace (FIG. 3). Fattyamides containing a C16:0 fatty chain were identified as being the mostabundant in the GC-MS trace (FIG. 3).

The results of this example show a method of producing fatty amides withvarious fatty chain lengths having either zero or one unsaturation byculturing an E. coli strain that was engineered to produce acyl-ACP andwhich further expressed a PPS enzyme encoded by gene AY632377 in amedium containing 3-dimethylamino-1-propylamine.

Example 6

This example illustrates a method for producing various fatty amides byfeeding a variety of primary amines to a genetically engineeredmicroorganism.

The OP80 empty vector or OP80-PPS plasmid was transformed into E. coliMG1655 strains DG5, DG5 Tn7-'tesA, and DG5 Tn7-'tesA-fadD, as describedin Example 3. Each of the six strains was cultured overnight in LB brothwith no additional glucose. Then, each of the overnight cultures wasinoculated in nutrient rich media containing glucose. More specifically,1 mL of each of the overnight cultures was inoculated into nutrient rich2N-BT (2% glucose, nitrogen limited medium, 0.2M Bis-Tris, pH 7.0, 0.1%Triton): LB (1:10) media containing 1 mM IPTG, antibiotics, and 1% ofone of the following primary amines: (±)-1-amino-2-propanol,2-methoxyethylamine, 3-amino-1-propanol, 2-amino-1-3-propanediol,3-methoxypropylamine, N-(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediamine, or butylamine.The cultures were incubated in a pH-controlled environment for 60 hrs.The OD₆₀₀ of each culture was recorded, and the cells were harvested andextracted with ethyl acetate (2 volumes of culture to 1 volume of ethylacetate). The organic fractions were collected and utilized for GC-MSanalysis as described in Example 3. Fatty amides were obtained from eachof the PPS-expressing E. coli strains fed with a primary amine. Thefatty amide product obtained from each feed substrate is depicted inFIG. 4. The fatty amide products were not detected in E. coli strainstransformed with empty vector.

The results of this example demonstrate a method of producing distinctspecies of fatty amides in an E. coli strain that was geneticallyengineered to produce fatty thioesters and which further expressed a PPSenzyme encoded by gene AY632377 by varying the primary amine feed type.

Example 7

This example shows that expression of a homolog of PPS in a geneticallyengineered microorganism produced the same fatty amide compounds thatare produced when PPS is expressed.

The PPS encoded by AY632377 (SEQ ID NO: 2) was previously determined notto have a sequence identity of greater than 20% to any other knownsequence by BLAST analysis (see Brady et al. (2004) J. Nat. Prod., 67:1283-1286). The amino acid sequence of the PPS enzyme encoded by geneAY632377, i.e., GenBank Accession No. AAV33349 (SEQ ID NO: 1) wassubjected to a BLAST search of the National Center for BiotechnologyInformation (NCBI) database. A homologue, encoding the enzyme,N-(4-amino-2-hydroxylbutyl)tetradecanamide synthase (AhtS) (GenBankAccession No. ACX33975.1) (SEQ ID NO: 3), was identified as having anamino acid sequence that is 38% identical to the amino acid sequence ofPPS encoded by gene AY632377. The gene encoding AhtS was synthesized byGENEART™ (Life Technologies, Grand Island, N.Y.) and cloned into theexpression vector OP80, as follows. Plasmid OP80 was purified andsubjected to restriction digestions with NcoI/PmeI (New England Biolabs,Inc., Ipswich, Mass.). The AhtS gene was cloned into OP80 using theIN-FUSION™ PCR Cloning System (Clontech, Mountain View, Calif.) with thefollowing primers:

3.10.10-2_InfusF: (SEQ ID NO: 20)5′-GAGGAATAAACCATGCCCATTCTTGAAAGCGTGGG-3′ and 3.10.10-2_InfusR:(SEQ ID NO: 21) 5′-AGCTGGAGACCGTTTAAACTTATAAACCGCTGTTTGTCGCAA CCG-3′.

Two colonies were positive for plasmid containing the AhtS-encodinginsert by restriction digestion. The plasmid was confirmed to containthe AhtS-encoding gene by sequence analysis, and was termed “OP80-AhtS.”The OP80-AhtS plasmid was transformed into E. coli MG1655 strains DG5,DG5 Tn7-'tesA, and DG5 Tn7-'tesA-fadD. The three strains were culturedand induced as described in Example 4, and each culture was fed either3-dimethylamino-1-propylamine, (±)-1-amino-2-propanol, or ethanolamineto a final concentration of 1%. After 60 hrs of culture in apH-controlled incubator, the cultures were harvested and extracted withethyl acetate (2 volumes of culture to 1 volume of ethyl acetate). Theorganic fractions were collected and utilized for GC-MS analysis asdescribed in Example 3.

Fatty amides were obtained from each of the AhtS-expressing E. colistrains fed with each of the primary amines. A representative GC-MStrace of the products produced by E. coli MG1655 DG5 Tn7-'tesA-fadDtransformed with OP80-AhtS fed with 3-dimethylamino-1-propylamine isprovided as FIG. 5. The peak having a GC retention time of 11.4 min wasconfirmed as C14:0 fatty N-(3-dimethylamino-1-propylamide) by MSanalysis (FIG. 5). Fatty amide products were not detected in E. colistrains transformed with empty vector. The highest amount of amides wereproduced in E. coli MG1655 strain DG5 Tn7-'tesA-fadD, whereas the lowestamount of amides were produced in E. coli MG1655 strain DG5 Tn7-'tesA.The increased production of amides in the DG5 Tn7-'tesA-fadD strainsuggests that the AhtS enzyme has a preference for C14:0 fatty thioestersubstrates. These data also suggest that both AhtS and PPS can use eachof the two fatty thioester substrates (i.e., fatty-ACPs and fatty-CoAs)in E. coli to make fatty amides.

The results of this example demonstrate that the AhtS enzyme cancatalyze the same type of reaction between primary amines and fattythioester substrates as the PPS enzyme. In addition, the data shown inthis example indicated that the AhtS enzyme has a preference for C14:0fatty thioester substrates.

Example 8

This example provides an in vivo method for generating a primary amineuseful as a starting material in the generation of a fatty amideaccording to the present disclosure.

In vivo production of ethanolamine can be achieved by geneticallyincreasing serine biosynthesis and serine decarboxylation pathways. Todo so, the glycolytic intermediate 3-phosphoglycerate is increased byengineering E. coli strain MG1655 to overexpress phosphoglyceratemutases (gpm AB). The serine production pathway is engineered byoverexpressing phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (serA), 3-phosphoserineaminotransferase (serC), and 3-phosphoserine phosphate (serB). Aheterologous serine decarboxylase (SDC), which decarboxylates serine toethanolamine, is expressed in the host. In order to prevent the strainfrom metabolizing ethanolamine and serine, the genes encoding thedegradation enzymes ethanolamine ammonia-lyase (eutABC) and serinedeaminases (sdaAB) are deleted (FIG. 6). Fatty amides can then beproduced in the recombinant microorganism which produces ethanolamine byoverexpressing a polypeptide, such as PPS or AhtS, which catalyzes theconversion of ethanolamine and an acyl thioester to a fatty amide.

Various modifications and variations of the present disclosure will beapparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scopeand spirit of the disclosure. Although the disclosure has been describedin connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should beunderstood that the claims should not be unduly limited to such specificembodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes forcarrying out the disclosure, which are understood by those skilled inthe art are intended to be within the scope of the claims.

We claim:
 1. A recombinant microorganism comprising an exogenous nucleicacid sequence encoding a palmitoylputrescine synthase (PPS) haying atleast 90% sequence identity to the amino acid sequence of SEQ. ID. NO.:1, wherein the PPS catalyzes the conversion of a primary amine and anacyl thioester to a fatty amide, wherein the microorganism furtherexpresses an exogenous thioesterase (EC 3.12.14 or EC 3.1.1.5) and iscultured in the presence of a carbon source.
 2. The recombinantmicroorganism of claim 1, wherein the PPS polypeptide has an amino acidsequence comprising SEQ ID NO:
 1. 3. The recombinant microorganism ofclaim 1, wherein the PPS polypeptide is encoded by an exogenous nucleicacid sequence comprising SEQ ID NO:
 2. 4. The recombinant microorganismof claim 1, wherein the carbon source is a carbohydrate.
 5. Therecombinant microorganism of claim 1, wherein the primary amine isselected from the group consisting of 3-dimetylamino-1-propylamine,±-1-amino-2-propanol, 2-methoxyethylamine, 3-amino-l-propanol,2-amino-1,3-propanediol, 3-methoxypropylamine,N-(2-hydroxyethyl)ethylenediamine, butylamine, and 1,4-diaminobutane, ora combination thereof.
 6. The recombinant microorganism of claim 5,wherein the acyl thioester is a fatty acyl-ACP or a fatty acyl-CoA. 7.The recombinant microorganism of claim 6, wherein the fatty acyl-ACP orthe fatty acyl-CoA is produced by the microorganism.
 8. The recombinantmicroorganism of claim 1, wherein the recombinant microorganismcomprises exogenous nucleic acid sequences encoding one or more of afatty acid biosynthetic polypeptide and an acyl-CoA synthase polypeptide(EC 2.3.1.86).
 9. The recombinant microorganism of claim 8, wherein themicroorganism comprises exogenous nucleic acid sequences encoding athioesterase polypeptide and an acyl-CoA synthase polypeptide.
 10. Therecombinant microorganism of claim 8, wherein the exogenous nucleic acidsequence encoding the thioesterase polypeptide comprises a nucleic acidsequence of ′tesA.
 11. The recombinant microorganism of claim 1, whereinthe microorganism is a bacteria, a cyanobacteria, an algae, or a fungi.12. The recombinant microorganism of claim 11, wherein the microorganismis a fungi.
 13. The microorganism of claim 12, wherein the fungi is ayeast or a filamentous fungi.
 14. The recombinant microorganism of claim1, wherein the microorganism is a Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Candidalipolytica, Escherichia coli, Arthrobacter, Rhodotorula glutinins ,Acinetobacter, Candida lipolytica, Botryococcus braunii, Vibriofurnissii, Micrococcus leuteus, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, Bacillussubtilis, Bacillus lichenoformis, Psuedomonus putida, Psuedomonasflorescens, Streptomyces coelicolor, Synechococcus sp. PCC7002,Thermosynechococcus elongatesBP-1, Prototheca moriformis, Protothecakrugani, Prototheca stagnora, Prototheca zopfii, or Chorellaprotothecoide cell.
 15. The recombinant microorganism of claim 14,wherein the microorganism is an Arthrobacter AK 19, Acinetobacter sp.strain M-1, E. coli B, E. coli C, E. coli K, or E. coli W cell.
 16. Therecombinant microorganism claim 5, wherein the fatty amide is a fattyalkanolamide or a fatty amidoamine.
 17. The recombinant microorganism ofclaim 1, wherein the microorganism expresses a serine decarboxylasepolypeptide.
 18. A method of producing a fatty amide comprising: (a)providing a recombinant microorganism according to claim 1; and (b)culturing the recombinant microorganism in a culture medium underconditions suitable for expression of the nucleic acid sequence encodingthe polypeptide that catalyzes the conversion of the primary amine andthe acyl thioester to the fatty amide in the presence of at least onesubstrate for the polypeptide.
 19. The method of claim 18, furthercomprising isolating the fatty amide from the culture medium.
 20. Themethod of claim 18, wherein the fatty amide is a C8, C9, C10, C11, C12,C13, C14, C15, C16, C17, C18, C19, or C20 fatty alkanolamide.
 21. Themethod of claim 18, wherein the fatty amide is a C8, C9, C10, C11, C12,C13, C14, C15, C16, C17, C18, C19, or C20 fatty amidoamine.